Russ McCutcheon
Well Known Member
Our RV-4 (Cobra Ball) Van’s Serial #18 was the third -4 to take flight and is (so far un-disputed) the oldest RV-4 in service, Built by Lee McDaniel and first flown on Mother’s Day 1983. It sports an MTV-15b-183-33 CS prop turned by a Lycoming IO-360-A1A with Sky Dynamics Maxi sump/cold air induction, using a B&C SD-8 as the primary and only alternator and 4 into 1 exhaust. The gear legs and tail spring as well at the rear stick are Titanium. Empty weight is 1065 pounds.
I met Lee and Jan McDaniel when I was only 15 and the Cobra Ball was brand new, that RV-4 was the coolest airplane I had ever seen. Jump forward to 1990 I got my pilots license and started flying my flight instructor’s RV-4, my instructor was Boyd Williamson, he flew for the USAF starting after Perl Harbor WW2 through Vietnam. In 1991 I went to work for Lee welding RV parts where I walked past and probably ran my fingers across the Cobra Ball every day for ten years. I bought Lee’s business in 2001 and finally in 2005 I bought his airplane, the same one I dreamed about from the age of 15!
Antique Breitling Airforce clock.
I met Lee and Jan McDaniel when I was only 15 and the Cobra Ball was brand new, that RV-4 was the coolest airplane I had ever seen. Jump forward to 1990 I got my pilots license and started flying my flight instructor’s RV-4, my instructor was Boyd Williamson, he flew for the USAF starting after Perl Harbor WW2 through Vietnam. In 1991 I went to work for Lee welding RV parts where I walked past and probably ran my fingers across the Cobra Ball every day for ten years. I bought Lee’s business in 2001 and finally in 2005 I bought his airplane, the same one I dreamed about from the age of 15!
Antique Breitling Airforce clock.
Last edited: