VAN'S RV-4

1989 Experimental RV-4

Specifications

Year

1989

Total time (TTAF)

1,283 hrs

Engine time (SMOH)

43 hrs

Engine

IO360-A1B6

Annual due

Jun 2025

Damage history

None reported

Avionics & panel

• ADS-B Out

Equipment list extracted from the seller's description. Verify with logbooks before purchase.

How this stacks up

• Listed today

  Fresh to market — early in the listing cycle

• Annual may be overdue

  The listing states the annual was due Jun 2025 — confirm the aircraft has a current annual before you commit

• No damage reported

  The listing reports no prior damage — the seller's description, not the logbooks, so confirm it at a pre-buy

• Engine has life left

  1,957 hrs to TBO (98% of the 2,000-hr Lycoming IO-360 interval remaining) — an overhaul is well down the road

• 4/5 key specs

  Most key specs are provided; verify any missing details with the seller

This summary draws on signals shown in detail below — price comps, listing age, maintenance and engine status, and key specs. Read each section for full context. Not an appraisal.

Engine Life

Based on 43 hrs since overhaul (SMOH) and the published 2,000 hr TBO for the Lycoming IO-360.

Airframe time

Average over the aircraft's life — 1,283 hrs total time across ~37 years. A rule of thumb, not a guarantee.

Low-time for its age

This airframe has averaged about 35 hrs/year over ~37 years — light use for a personal aircraft. Fewer hours can mean lighter wear, but aircraft that sit also risk dried seals, corrosion, and stale fuel-system components. Ask how regularly it's flown and what the recent annual inspections found.

Annual inspection

Required every 12 calendar months. Read off the listing's stated annual-due date — confirm against the logbooks.

Annual inspection may be overdue

The listing states the annual was due Jun 2025, about 14 months ago — confirm the aircraft has a current annual, and budget ~$2,500 if it still needs one.

Damage history

Reported in the listing — confirm against the airframe and engine logbooks.

This listing reports no prior damage. That is a positive sign, but the flag reflects the seller’s description, not the logbooks — confirm it during a pre-buy. Undocumented or unrepaired damage is a classic red flag, so have an independent inspector review the airframe and engine records before you commit.

Cost to own

Rule-of-thumb estimates — insurance ≈ 1% of price, hangar $7,500/yr, annual inspection $2,500/yr, fuel + oil at your selected hrs/yr. Engine reserve from the panel above is folded into the split. Your actual costs will vary.

At 100 hrs/yr, renting at $150/hr would be $9,195 cheaper annually — fly more to see ownership savings.

Buy-in is the asking price split evenly across partners — what you'd each pay to acquire the aircraft (the real figure is negotiated). Fixed costs (insurance, hangar, inspection, engine reserve) split equally by number of partners; fuel/oil is per-pilot since each partner flies their own hours.