The RV-4 airframe will accept a range of engines up to 180 hp (134 kW), including the Lycoming O-360.

The RV-4 has proven to be a capable cross country aircraft in service, able to carry two modest sized people and baggage on longer trips.

RV-4s have been flown around the world, notably by an Australian, Jon Johanson, who completed world-girdling RV-4 flights on two occasions.

Unlike most later RV series designs, RV-4 kits are only available with conventional landing gear, although some may have been constructed in tricycle configuration by builders.

At least two RV-4s have also been built with retractable landing gear (mostly for the engineering challenge, as the performance gains were modest).