The Roe IV Triplane resembled Roe's Type III, being a tractor configuration triplane with the lower wing of smaller span than the upper two and a triangular section wire-braced fuselage, which was uncovered behind the pilot's seat.

Although the ailerons fitted to the previous design had been satisfactory, Roe returned to wing warping for lateral control.

It was powered by a 35 horsepower (26 kW) Green water-cooled four-cylinder inline engine, with the radiator mounted above the fuselage between the front inner interplane struts.

[1] The single example built was used for a while as a trainer at the Avro Flying School at Brooklands, where several pilots who were to become famous learnt to fly in it, including Howard Pixton, who gained his Aero Club certificate in it on 24 January 1911.

During its service as a trainer it was crashed numerous times, including at least twice into the notorious Brooklands sewage farm.