Aircraft Now Available For Demo Flights
Randy Schlitter, CEO of RANS Aircraft, tells ANN the company's
new S-19 sport plane has completed 50 hours of flight testing...
and is now available for demonstrations flights. RANS will sponsor
an open house in September, but interested pilots may schedule a
demo flight sooner than that at the company's factory in Hays,
KS.
Schlitter says the plane -- a departure for RANS, in that it is an all-metal
aircraft, no fabric to be seen -- has passed flight
test and advanced inspection with flying colors.
"As you get to know a plane it is fun to track first impressions
to more matured views," Schlitter says. "In the case of the S-19, I
was impressed with the smooth balanced handling, and was very
curious about performance. After 50 hours of flying I am still very
impressed with the fine handling, and very happy with
performance."
Schlitter reports the S-19 is very close to its projected
numbers. "As we told you at Oshkosh, cruise speed is 110 KTS, and
could see some improvement with some tweaks to prop, wheel pants,
and other drag offenders," he says. "But the bottom line is a solid
110 knots in stock form, meaning it can only get better from
here."
While the S-19 isn't intended for aerobatic flight, Schlitter
notes the aircraft has been taken through rolls and loops without
incident -- which Schlitter attributes to the plane's low weight
and aerodynamic cleanliness. Furthermore -- and perhaps more
importantly -- the aircraft shows a "pretty aggressive" spin
recovery capability.
"This is not a conclusion about spins, since we need to fly many
more spin tests," Schlitter cautions, "but the plane is reacting
very nice to recovery input."
Service ceiling is working out to above 14,000. Endurance
is four hours when running around 5300 PRM.
The RANS factory is now building the first batch of S-19 kits,
and the first tail kits should be shipping in the next several
weeks. The company is also building another S-19, to give the
factory firsthand experience in dealing with issues builders down
the line may encounter.
Schlitter says one of the design goals of the S-19 was to have
enough cubic baggage space to carry one or two folding or
knock-down bikes -- in fact, RANS is working on a knock-down bike
of its own design -- or, enough room for one pilot to carry enough
baggage for an overnight trip.
"This photo (below) confirms there is plenty of space
for at least one and baggage," Schlitter notes, "and two if packing
really light -- like only a toothbrush light!"
Well, after all... these ARE "light" aircraft..."