1. Design and development

2. Operational history

3. Variants

4. Specifications (RF-4D)

5. See also

6. References

The Fournier RF-4 is a single-seater motor glider designed by René Fournier in 1966. It is an aerobatic version of the Fournier RF-3.^[1][2]

Design and development

Conceived as a motor glider and sport touring aircraft, the RF-4 was introduced in 1966. It is of all-wood construction and is fully aerobatic. The landing gear consists of a monowheel gear which retracts forward into a fibreglass cowling. The main wheel has a brake which is manually operated. There is a small steerable tailwheel and wing-mounted outrigger wheels.^[3]

Operational history

An RF-4D was flown by Mira Slovak across the Atlantic Ocean while participating in the May 1969 Daily Mail Air Race. The flight won a £1,000 prize offered by the London Evening News for the best performance in the race by an aircraft under {{convert|5000|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} gross take-off weight.^[3] The main landing gear fork is an ongoing maintenance issue, with regular replacements needed.^[4]

Variants

RF-4

Prototype aerobatic variant of the RF-3, three-built by Alpavia

RF-4D

Production variant, 155 built in Germany by Sportavia-Putzer, D was for Deutschland. 16 shipped to America^[5]

Specifications (RF-4D)

|genhide=
|crew=1
|capacity=
|length m=
|length ft=19
|length in=10
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=37
|span in=0
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=5
|height in=2
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=122
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=11.2
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=595
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=860
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|38|l}}
|more general=

|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Rectimo 4 AR 1200 (VW)
|eng1 type=air-cooled flat-four piston engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=39
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=Hoffmann
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=4
|prop dia in=11
|prop note=

|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=122
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|max speed mach=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=110
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=46
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=155
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=400
|range nmi=
|range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=4
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=19000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=11
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=20:1
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=690
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|sink rate ms=
|sink rate ftmin=
|sink rate note=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}

See also

• Fournier RF-5

References

• Harrison, Neil. "In the Air:Number 230:Fournier RF-4D". Flight International, 2 May 1968. pp. 669–670.

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