Fournier RF-4
Alpavia / Fournier · France · first flew 1963 · light aircraft
The Fournier RF-4 is a French side-by-side two-seat motor glider designed by René Fournier in the early 1960s, combining a high-aspect-ratio wooden sailplane wing with a small Volkswagen-derived engine to create an economical and graceful touring aircraft. It was produced by Alpavia and became the template for a whole family of Fournier designs.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Very high aspect-ratio wing and slender fuselage give it the visual proportions of a powered glider |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Ultra-light motor-glider with a wooden sailplane wing mated to a tiny Volkswagen-derived engine
- Side-by-side two-seat cockpit with a long pointed nose housing the small flat-four engine
- Very high aspect-ratio wing and slender fuselage give it the visual proportions of a powered glider
Distinctive for its very long, narrow wing of near-sailplane proportions, the small blunt nose housing the flat-four engine, and a clean streamlined fuselage; easily confused with the single-seat RF-3 and RF-5 but the side-by-side two-seat canopy distinguishes it.
Specifications
- The Fournier RF-4 has a length of 6.94 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.2 m (43 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 185 km/h (115 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
René Fournier had pioneered the motor-glider concept with earlier RF-1 and RF-3 single-seaters. The RF-4 of 1963 enlarged the concept to side-by-side two seats and was built under licence by Alpavia; it sold steadily to touring and glider pilots across Europe seeking an economical and enjoyable cross-country machine.
Variants
The single-seat RF-3 preceded the RF-4; the RF-5 that followed added more power and a slightly enlarged airframe. The RF-4D was a detail-refined version; the design lineage continued through the RF-6 and Sportavia series.
Where you'll see it
Operated exclusively by private owners and flying clubs in France and across Europe from the mid-1960s onward; no military use. Many examples remain flying today.
Related aircraft
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