An Aircraft for Every Budget: The Van’s RV-4 for $60K

If your budget tops out around $60,000 and you care more about how an airplane flies than how many people it carries, the Van’s RV-4 is one of the smartest ways to get real performance without certified-aircraft overhead.

You’re not buying a tired 50-year-old trainer. You’re buying a metal, experimental, two-seat sport airplane that:

• Cruises fast enough to be a real cross-country machine

• Is genuinely fun to hand-fly

• Is cheaper to maintain and upgrade than a comparable certified airplane

All for roughly $60,000 for a good, clean example.

Budget: What $60K Really Buys in an RV-4

At about $60,000, you’re in the range for a solid, flyable RV-4 that you don’t have to rescue.

In this bracket, you’re typically getting:

• A well-built airframe with decent documentation on the build

• An engine that’s still usable (maybe not showroom-fresh, but maintained and flying regularly)

• Straight, corrosion-free structure

• A basic but functional VFR (sometimes light IFR) panel

It won’t be a showplane with brand-new paint, full glass, and a zero-time engine—but it will be something you can fly and enjoy immediately, not drag into a multi-year project.

Experimental = Cheaper Maintenance and Upgrades

The RV-4’s experimental status is a big part of why it works at this price point.

Compared to certified:

• Maintenance is more flexible and often cheaper

• Fewer certification-driven parts premiums

• Easier to source or fabricate sensible replacements

• Owner-assist maintenance is far more practical

• Avionics and panel work are more affordable

• Non-TSO’d equipment is an option

• You’re not paying STC tax on every change

• Incremental upgrades are more realistic on a budget

You still need a good shop and smart decisions—but the regulatory and cost structure is far friendlier than a certified equivalent.

Cheap to Own and Operate

For the performance it delivers, the RV-4 is very inexpensive to run.

Typical ownership profile looks like:

• Fuel burns roughly in the 7–10 GPH range, depending on engine and power settings

• Simple systems:

• Fixed gear

• No pressurization

• No complex, high-dollar subsystems

Add in:

• Condition inspection instead of a traditional certified annual

• Easier parts sourcing

• Lower labor burden on many tasks

…and you end up with a genuinely affordable airplane for someone who flies regularly but doesn’t want to own a maintenance queen.

A Legit Cross-Country Airplane

The RV-4 isn’t just a pattern toy.

When you set it up right, it’s a very capable cross-country platform for two people:

• Respectable cruise speed for the fuel burn

• Range and endurance that easily handle regional trips and weekend getaways

• Handling that makes real-world IFR (when equipped and flown by a proficient pilot) more pleasant than many older certified singles

Ideal mission profile:

• 300–600 NM legs

• One pilot, one passenger, and bags

• Efficient point-to-point travel with the bonus that the airplane is actually fun to fly when you get there.

Who the RV-4 Is Perfect For

The Van’s RV-4 is an excellent fit if you:

• Have around $60,000 to spend on a good, clean airplane

• Don’t need four seats—two is fine if they’re the right two

• Care about:

• Performance and handling

• Lower maintenance and upgrade costs

• Being in the experimental world instead of the certified treadmill

• Want:

• A real cross-country machine on a tight budget

• A sport airplane that isn’t just a novelty

• Something you’re excited to fly, not just tolerate

You’re not buying a Cherokee 140, a Musketeer, or a clapped-out 172. You’re buying a two-seat, metal, experimental sport-touring airplane that gives you far more airplane for the money than most certified options anywhere near this budget.

For around $60K, the RV-4 is one of the best “fun plus utility” values flying.