Designer and company president Randy Schlitter flies the S-19 near Oshkosh. Note the cockpit headroom and the tailplane’s large vertical area. Big ailerons make for cooperative handling and large flaps help deliver easy landings in S-19. See a video of it flying.
Most light aircraft enthusiasts know Rans. One of America’s leading builders the Hays, Kansas company has delivered more than 4,000 aircraft. Rans achieved Primary Category certification for their high wing tandem S-7 Courier in the 1990s. That program fizzled through no fault of Rans’ but after meeting industry consensus (ASTM) standards their S-7LS again won approval as a Special Light-Sport Aircraft. *** Sales of the model ranks the company at #17…5th among U.S. builders. That position seems bound to rise when Rans adds the low wing side-by-side S-19 as a SLSA (so far it’s been offered as a 51% kit). Look for their announcement at the Sebring Expo. *** Recently I attended EAA’s Hall of Fame ceremony as designer Randy Schlitter was inducted into the Homebuilders category. Since he flew to Oshkosh I got the chance to fly his ’19 for an article to appear in EAA’s Sport Pilot. With 25 years of experience and a fleet of designs under his belt, Randy knows the task well. S-19 is a terrific flying machine. Control harmony is very good. Stability is excellent. Landing characteristics make for great touchdowns. Watch for my full pilot report early in 2008.
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