At the Minneapolis Sport Pilot Tour, RANS exhibited their S-6 and S-7LS. At a fly away price of $75,000 S-7LS Courier SLSA represents a strong value. Coyote S-6 remains a 51% kit, one of the most popular in the world. Either can be flown with a Sport Pilot Certificate. Earlier this year the Hays, Kansas company abbreviated their line to their best sellers (S-6, S-7 & S-12) *** New Light Sport Aircraft from RANS are still in development. Designer Randy Schlitter has already announced his low-wing S-19, but he told me of S-20, a high wing variation using many of the same components. This could smartly establish RANS against Euro designs like Italy’s Tecnam with their high wing Bravo and low wing Sierra, which also share components. Look at the entire RANS family of planes. (The RANS website has no info on S-20 yet.)
Archives for August 2006
RANS Wins SLSA Certificate for S-7S Courier
The race continues and yesterday it was joined by another American producer. The race is to obtain Special Light Sport Aircraft airworthiness certificates, allowing an airplane to be fully built and sold for instructional use or rental. A company with an SLSA approval can also elect to sell an ELSA kit. RANS plans to do both. Welcome to #17 in the list of shiny new SLSA. RANS will be bringing the model to the AOPA Expo in just a few days. Come see it — and most other SLSA — in the special LSA area of the AOPA Expo airport display. RANS is perhaps the largest producer of aircraft in the LSA general description and they passed a major milestone in June 2005 when they delivered their 4,000th model since that first S-4/5 Coyote Ultralight. “Most of the dozen models RANS builds [except S-16 Shekari]…fit into the light sport plane category,” says designer Randy Schlitter.
Gorgeous, Award-Winning Biplane from Duluth
EAA’s Minneapolis Sport Pilot Tour, plagued at first with some logistical challenges, came off very well. More than 500 LSA-interested attendees showed up at Airlake airport south of the Twin Cities metro. The local Sport Pilot school, LSA North at the Aircraft Resource Center, exhibited their CTs along with the Sportstar, KP-5, RANS S-6 and S-7 and others. One of the charmers was the award-winnng Hatz Bantam from builder Mark Marino. The Bantam is an evolution of the original John Hatz biplane designed in the 1960s. Leap forward in time and the lighter Hatz can be flown by a Sport Pilot. Previously only plans were available but Marino is now working on Hatz Partz, components that represents elements of a full kit. The 1,320 pound Bantam is powered by a 120-hp Jabiru 3300 six cylinder four stroke. It can carry a couple two hundred pounders and fly 110 mph.
Two Top LSA Providers Join Forces…a New Trend?
Perhaps it’s the start of a new trend…early consolidation. Or maybe it’s simply a good fit between two top LSA providers. Either way, customers and sport pilots win in my opinion. Today, a joint announcement was issued by SportairUSA (national importer of the StingSport) and Czech Aircraft Works (builder of the Mermaid, Parrot, and SportCruiser). The two organizations said that SportairUSA will begin distribution of the Parrot high wing and SportCruiser low wing using their nationwide network of dealers. Czech Aircraft Works U.S. partner, Sport Aircraft Works, run by Danny Defelici welcomes the new arrangement saying, “To minimize our time to market, we required an established distributor that knows the sport aircraft market and possesses an extensive dealer network, so the logical choice was to team up with SportairUSA.” SportairUSA chief Bill Canino stated, “We are excited to represent the Parrot and SportCruiser in North America.” He added that bringing a high wing to their portfolio fills out their line and he views the SportCruiser as an exceptional trainer with a modest price tag.
A Gaggle of Newly Approved SLSA Models
In the last couple weeks, the number of FAA-approved Special Light-Sport Aircraft grew to 13 models. EAA keeps a current list, proved by copies of the airworthiness certificate, but I’ll list them here as: Festival, Breezer, C42, Legend Cub, Kappa KP-5 (photo), Bravo, T-211 Thorpedo, StingSport, Echo Super, Sierra, Allegro 2000, the CT, and SportStar. (The list is presented in reverse order of approval.) In a fairly short time — the first approval was announced just over three months ago — customers have been presented with many Light-Sport Aircraft choices. I’ve flown ten of these planes. Watch for my pilot reports here on the website; a few are available now.
Canadian-Based Savannah Wins SLSA #39
The first Canadian company to win SLSA approval was Summit and their powered parachute, itself the first (and still only) such to declare compliance with ASTM standards. Now comes the High River, Alberta-based Savannah (photo). Skykits Corporation president Eric Giles — whom I met at his display at the Arlington Fly-in — called to say he had gained approval for two Savannahs on August 15th, becoming the 39th SLSA. Savannah was created in Italy as a variation of the CH-701 though to many eyes it enjoys a more pleasing appearance. Savannah is available in three models all using the same fuselage but with different wings. The standard Savannah offers fixed, leading-edge slats while the VG model uses vortex generators to increase STOL capabilities. Savannah ADV has a tapered wing featuring electrically operated slats and electrically operated double-slotted flaps with separate ailerons. For those seeking a utility airplane with very short takeoff and landing, Savannah offers a new choice.
Handsome Floatplanes Are a Hit During Hot Summers
Summer fly-ins are an institution in recreational aviation. I attended one last weekend at Don Zank’s field near Bloomer, Wisconsin (north of Eau Claire). Of 50 or more planes that flew in, one was a handsome Just Aircraft Highlander “Marine” decked out in sleek amphibious floats. This time of year, while plenty of outdoorsmen pursue hunting and fishing, the amphib floatplane is versatile and desirable. Just Aircraft earned its SLSA airworthiness for Highlander — one of only seven American producers out of the 30 supplying Special Light-Sport Aircraft using ASTM consensus standards. Some customers are attracted to Highlander for its bushplane qualities. Others like its high useful load. Just Aircraft reports the 100-hp R-912 model weighs only 600 pounds empty, leaving a useful load of more than 700 pounds. With 18 gallons of fuel, Highlander claims a payload of more than 600 pounds though optional extras will cut into its carrying capacity.
A Legend Makes An Appearance
As a new season of flying for fun starts the Legend Cub from Sulphur Springs, Texas made its first flight. Company founders Tim Elliott and Darin Hart say their new Cub lookalike (it isn’t identical, for example, it’s got a wider cockpit) is for “recreational flyers of all ages around the world.” That’s a big statement but the popular design shape is certain to find good appeal. The Legend Cub makes its public debut at Sun ‘n Fun 2005. Look for a pilot report in an upcoming EAA Sport Pilot magazine.
Legend is First Cub to Sport a Jabiru Engine
Legend Aircraft‘s Cub is one of the top selling SLSA, ranking up high with Flight Design’s CT, Fantasy Air’s Allegro, Evektor’s SportStar, and TL Ultralight’s StingSport. Both American-made Cub-like designs (Legend’s and CubCrafters‘) have been 100% Continental O-200 powered because that engine is close to what was used in the original Piper J-3 Cub, which has driven demand from customers attracted to the vintage aircraft. However, the Cubs have higher empty weights than many of their smaller metal or composite competitors — CT and StingSport, being primarily carbon fiber airframes, weigh in almost 200 pounds lighter, for example. So, when operating at higher elevations or on floats, reported Legend staffer Pat Bowers, some owners felt more power would be useful. For several weeks the Sulphur Springs, Texas factory worked to install the Jabiru 3300. The six cylinder engine is 35 pounds lighter and has 20 more horsepower, a combination said to provided spirited performance.