How Vashon Wants to Revolutionize Aviation 

Dude has such big science energy that I thought that polo was a lab coat at first. Goals.

00:00 Start 00:05 *Vashon Ranger | LSA V2.0* 00:43 - John Torode | Vashon Founder 04:46 - Ken Krueger | Ranger Designer 08:07 - Scott Taylor | General Manager 10:49 *02 | Flying the Ranger* 10:57 - Walkthrough 12:36 - Flaps 13:09 - Stall 14:13 - Landing 14:59 *03 | Configuration* 14:59 - Panel 16:46 - Options 17:08 - Premium Vinyl Wrap 18:45 *04 | Training Program* If you like, thumbs pls

With a new Cessna 172 topping the price list at $465k, then that outrageous cost certainly opens the market for an affordable option. I certainly wish them the best.

There seem to be a lot of negative comments on this aircraft. I was of the same opinion initially but then I started to think, you get a cantilevered wing, fully certificated aircraft for 100 grand, give or take, and it's got a good sized cabin, with an auto pilot. That's not too damn bad! Would I buy one, not on your life. I'd spend that kind of money on an experimental and get a hell of lot more performance, but this is an LSA and should be appreciated for what it is. This guy has a good start. I think he needs to remove the LSA limit and put 150 hp in the nose and get that useful load up to where it's actually useful. As a training and rental aircraft... I think he did a pretty damn good job!

I sent in my deposit a few weeks ago. Delivery this December. Sadly, I’m selling my Cirrus SR22TN and my J-3 Cub as I close in on retirement. My mission. Aside from the Cub like flying I’ll do solo with my buddies in their planes, will also be weekend trips wound New England with my 120 pound wife and two 25 -35 pound dogs. Love the back seat area for them. Even with close to full fuel we will be under gross. Yes, it’s not a speed demon load carrying fire breathing six passenger retractable with device boots. That’s not what I want anymore. This airplane will fit the bill perfectly for our mission and for my current flying needs. I’m really excited.

“And where’s the aoa? Umm it’s on the pitot tube”. People are funny.

If they make a taildragger version I'd seriously consider buying one. Increase of the useful load would be good too.

Very nice work Ken Kruger and team! Congratulations!

Really like what Vashon has done here. Hoping to see an optional more powerful Jet-A Continental or Lycoming (traditional power-plant) in near future, something around 125-hp for the current 2-place and those that hold a PPL. A 4-place in the near future with Jet-A power-plant option would be great. Also, optional side-sticks or ram horn yokes, especially for the Flight School segment.

Cool trainer! Very well done as always Paul!

I love all these armchair designers and manufacturers bashing this plane. It's a pretty significant achievement to deliver a plane with these specs and state of the art avionics for 100k. Yes the payload is low but that is only because of the faa lsa weight limits. The plane was designed to fly at around 1460lbs gross. I confirmed this when I spoke to Vashon reps at SnF. If the Faa raises the LSA gross limits to this figure, the plane could legally carry about 400 lbs of useful load with full fuel. 100k is not a bad price when you consider that mid time 40 year old C152s are going for 40k. Put 4 or 5 people in a partnership and this purchase is quite doable. The owner of Dynon should be commended for investing his time and money on a very fine and well equipped lsa.

My new favorite channel!

Great interview as usual!!!!!!!!!

"I think it has" is not what a confident marketing director should be saying. This aircraft is cool, and will do well. Heck, I may be able to afford one someday.

The wrap looks fantastic, like it is a paint job.

A pretty natty LSA, for sure. I like the Continental power plant, and the construction is quite interesting.

Great plane, great design. This is my preferred new plane to fly. It has everything I need. I love the Ranger!!!

Very Impressive! Time-Proven AL construction and Continental engine. It seems very rugged and well built using advanced computerized manufacturing systems. It certainly got my attention. I've been pre-shopping the LSA market for some time now and this unique LS aircraft could well move up to the top of my wish-list!

Nice to see some new Sport / Private Pilot Planes being designed and produced. The fleet of Civilian Aircraft is aging to the point it's starting to look like state of Cuban automobiles. I wonder what the price of the Ranger would be as a Kit Plane?

Would be nice of commentors had to give their pilot rating (most don't have a pilots license no doubt) and what plane they OWN (few owners commenting or if they do own its a 40yo Cessna 172 with round gauges and 1500 hrs on their Continentals). For those who are licensed, experienced and OWN an aircraft and know the trade-offs and price-points, this plane is fantastic. It's priced $50k or more below like offerings from all the other makers. And it's built robust and with novel features unlike the other SLSA makers (especially the maingear and the adjustable rudder pedals). Then add the all glass "touch" panels, the ADS-B in/out, the 2-axis Autopilot with blue level button, the fold down seats and you have the best SLSA made pound for pound for the money. Btw. The Continental engine has a LOT more places where it can be worked on than a Rotax engine. The bottom line? Unless you own and fly a lot and especially if you have don't have experience with SLSA you will not understand what this plane is all about.

Even the guy who designed it said that the O-200 "might have been a mistake"!

Thanks, I enjoyed learning about this aircraft. "Why so serious?" Aren't you having a good time?

Neat plane. Thank you for the video.

I hope the model does well in flight schools looking for a modern trainer featuring a glass cockpit. I hope the price will soon fall to the $50-75k range in the coming years with volume... I feel this price range is where this aircraft belongs and what is needed in the marketplace! If an aircraft is the same price as a modern SUV than I see it selling in much higher quantities.

Very cool.👏👏👏👏👏

Boy , I love the way you think!

Good for you. Previous LSA's have terribly missed the mark. Wishing you luck. My only comment would have been a 912 would have been a better choice.

"Turrent punch" ... priceless.

I like what I see there Paul. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to take a flight in it. Maybe my club will buy to go along with all our Hershey bar pipers. I wonder what the hourly cost might be on this one.

I personally like the design/asthetics of the Vashon a lot, looks rugged, yet sleek imho. I too understand their thinking behind wanting to use the very well known Continental power-plant, I personally do not care how dated the design of the power-plant is, if it is a proven/reliable design, but if it is not enough power and not EFI vs. a gravity fed carburetor, it is not comepetive and a deal breaker for many, like myself. Bring the power up to par or better (true x-country capable), I would be all in, as would many others I believe. Maybe offer another, more powerful power-plant with EFI, would help. Also, I may have missed it, but should offer with at least (3) steam gauges. MOST IMPORTANTLY....GET THAT USEFUL LOAD UP! Happy/Safe Flying!🇺🇸👍

I really hope this model does well. It's nice to see somebody as innovative as this inventor put out a good flight training aircraft. I think some people continue to not understand the gravity of the situation coming up in aviation. Lack of qualified pilots.

KEN KRUEGER my god just absolutely BRUTALLY honest hahah love it. "fatter" hahahah

Awesome!

The taildragger version will sell like crazy. I suspect they know that...

Bravo.thenks

Excellent interior design.

This does show the limitations of the current environment for light aircraft production. The standard production price for a two seat trainer is 1.7x the cost of a mid-sized sedan. You can get a sedan for $30,000 which would put a certified trainer at $51,000. Someone is probably going to object and say that this price is unrealistic. However, back in 1938, you could buy a Ford Tudor sedan for $667 and a Piper Cub for $1,000 making the ratio 1.5x. This dropped to about 1.4x by the end of WWII because they built so many liaison aircraft. The 1.7x ratio is what it was in the 1970s. With a price tag of $100,000 you have a very undesirable ratio of 3.3x. This could be fixed (there are many solutions) but there just doesn't seem to be any will to do it for light aircraft.

Wants to build a cheap aircraft to get pilots into the air - puts in a continental... right-o...

The 90hp 4cyl D-Motor would be a great engine for this. To add about 100lbs back to the useful load

What is interesting about this AC is that the design objective was to use economy of manufacture. As the primary focus of the engineering as it meshes with the most advanced tooling that this small manufacturer can afford. The Cessna 162 Skycatcher retailed for a 50% higher price(2013) using the same engine, with a similar panel and had a 40 lb better useful load. Before it was killed off in 2013. Factoring inflation the C-162 would sell for $162,000 today.

This is a badass plane! Great video!

I agree with the comments about cost $100K isn't affordable and maybe airplanes can't be affordable. But looking at that nose wheel, I don't think it would stand up to a single hard landing so that idea of it being an SUV or training plane is laughable. I suspect that one hard landing that that front gear would be bent.

"We wanted to help encourage young people to get into aviation, so we found a 'Geezer' and built our plane to his specifications"

I know this is 5y old video, but it is very important and new to me. It has so nmuch important details about the airplane and the factory that if decisive to who is on the Market da a LSA. I want you to see a Video Like this on the areaprackt A 32 from Haven bound aviation in Ohio, one day. thanks

A step in the right direction (towards reducing the “general” cost), no doubt. But I can’t help and wonder how much land perfoance has been compromised by designing the airplane also as a float option. Be that as it may, I sure would be happy to rent this from a flight school than a beat up C172 at $130/hr.

So his brilliant idea is an aluminum plane with a cantilevered wing and a Continental? Astonishing!

What is revolutionary about using and aluminium riveted plane with an engine designed 70 years ago?

Another 100,000+ "Affordable" airplane. That means 100/Hr rental rates and very few that can afford to buy them

A Ranger demo flight will cost you $200/30 minutes...YIKES! I thought this was supposed to be an affordable entry into the LSA market??

Nice video and nice plane. Looks easy to handle. I like Amy. Very smart, very cute.

I don't think O-200 is the whole reason why this airplane is so stupidly heavy. The cantilever wing is part too. I'm sure there's more.

Nice plane. Btw that attitude indicator at 11:30 is showing about 25* nose down?

It's amazing to me how a lot of people just can't see past price to see value. I think the Ranger has definite possibilities, and it seems well-thought out, if the manufacturer doesn't get too excited about what flight schools say they're going to do, but rather just sticks to expansion based on actual sales. As for useful load, we Americans should get real with ourselves and report to our local gym...otherwise it'll take an A380 to haul or fat carcasses around in the future...maybe we need some Basic Training DI with a hat to yell at us and make us do pushups until HE gets tired...the Ranger will do great on floats and shows promise as a Light Sport Bush-plane as well if offered with conventional gear.

I want this aircraft!!!

There doesn't seem to be much headroom, can you adjust seat height?

Could the same production methods be applied to the now out of production GA8, or did Gipps Aero fill the available market during their production run?

I agree with the comments below. A Rotax 912 would be better in this application than a Continental 0200. Unless the Light Sport weight limit gets increased from the current 1,320# limit, the plane needs to weigh less to be a trainer. Two 190# guys is 380 from 1,320= 940. Twenty gallons at 6 Lbs/gal means 3-1/2 hours at 5gph and 1/2 hr reserve.The plane needs to weigh 820 empty, give or take the weight of headsets, IPads and the occasional "heavy purse".

Looks like the initial military model of the Cessna scout plane

i havnt heard a mention of the used market yet. if i could pick one of these up in five years with some hours left for 40 to 50 grand, that would be something id look forward too. i could finally own a modern airplane.

Nice, twist on the traditional, evolution rather than revolution, but thoughtful and made using modern methods of production. Heavy an tough vs light and flimsy ? Looks well made. I like the doors, cabin size and seating/camping options, thoughtful. The glass cockpit is a love/hate thing. Looks good apart from any reflections. Not sure about rearwards and above viability, not a lot of perspex or glass present. I've often pondered light weight vinyl wraps for LSAs, in theory they should protect the paint - but be careful who applies it! Downside for Europe (if they're ever sold there)? The engine, Rotax have their faults but are becoming the norm for LSA and Microlights in 'Europe'. Having said that, it's heavier than most Rotax equipped aircraft?

With it being predrilled and all it would be a exclent kit plane

Best review of this plane yet. Wish the 80hp rotax was an option to lower the price, weight, and fuel bill even more.

The FAA, AOPA, Aircraft Spruce’s “Sport Pilot Encyclopedia”, manufacturers, and responsible CFIs ALL agree: taxiing should be at a “ brisk walk” regardless of the distances [ tell that to SWA !]. Airports generally specify a maximum speed of 20 mph for ground vehicles which have the tremendous stopping advantage over aircraft of brakes on the front axle. Yet from 18:44 to 18:52 and even worse from 19:06 to 19:18 this pair seems to hit >35knots. Someone familiar with the airport could calculate but prima facie reckless on a congested airport with wet asphalt.

Very nice. They should scale up the size a little and throw in an IO 320 or IO 360. Would make for an awesome plane and then they won’t be limited by LSA weight restriction to make a float or amphibian version. With their in house design and automation machinery they could probably design a beautiful set of amphibian floats to make this a real winner. I would buy a GA version in a heart beat.

Any thoughts about the exterior 'vinyl wrap'? Interesting idea, looks good from 'here'. Sounds like there is some experience with it in the automotive arena. However, when she said to remove it you just heat with a blow dryer my first thought was what happens if this sits out on the ramp in the Texas (insert your favorite hot sunny state here) sun on a 100 deg day? Is this going to start bubbling off the skin? Has anyone has experience with this wrap on the automotive side relative to the longevity?

Good trainer

What's the price difference between a Continental O-200 and a Lycoming IO-233? I guess the Lycoming costs a bit more, but may be cheaper to overhaul because the TBO is slightly (about 10-20%) longer and the overhaul cost is similar. It'd be interesting to see what the insurance impact of a UL350iS is, and then the TCO; and maybe the UL260iS. Purchase price is about twice as much as a Continental, and a bit less than that for the Lycoming.

I have my PPL but struggling to fly a lot to stay current because of the costs.. It sucks, I want to fly all the time.

$100k .... geez...

Love this airplane

Paul: a VERY nicely done review. And the added clout of a past VANS designer is impressive. Way to go! But, Paul, where's the right shoulder harness in the late part of the video?

It makes me upset when a company tries to advertise an LSA as "affordable" when the base price of the airplane is $100,000.

Engine choice undoubtedly was because of cost, Rotax 100 hp engine = $22,000, vs. Continental 100 hp engine = $11,000

The AOA display was on the left side of the screen.

Looks like a perfect trainer, however I dont like the crossbars at the windshield, its like 1950 again..

What about the fuel tanks. Do they come with explosion proofing fillers?

how is the skin thickness compared to a cessna or piper? all the lsa's I have looked at personally have very thin skins are hanger rash nightmares in my opinion.

its "affordable" only $100,000. a 152 is cheaper more effective and easier to get parts for.

Very Nice makes me want to learn to fly

2:25, I notice all the cables both wire and electrical seem to pass through unprotected holes in the metal plates! Surely a potential chafing issue over the longer term.

I didn't realize James Cromwell made airplanes. lol jk, so what's the status of Vashon these days? The idea of a LSA you can camp in is very appealing. Esp if it comes in a float version you can island hop with.

I like the Ranger, I wonder where the price will be on one ten years old. That marketing director is cute and I need some lessons!

This guy introduces himself as a "value engineer," a specialty that is [typically] more favorably viewed by MBAs than engineering peers. His goals are interesting.

No backup HSI?

The one benefit of the LSA category is that the limits set definite bounds to prevent creep of the design-target from chewing up the nickles and dimes. (Other than that I think the LSA concept[including pilot ratings] is an arbitrary bucket of bureaucratic tomfoolery. An attempt to solve a address a problem while being in complete denial about the underlying source of the problem. Result: Performance limits bordering on an ultralight with the cost, inconvenience, and paperwork of a certified aircraft. )

Those 2 struts in the windscreen would be a dealbreaker, they look to be blocking vision from both seats? Am I missing something, it seems like a huge flaw?

I really like the premise of an aggressively cost optimized plane because aviation is indeed much too expensive and a tech guy is a great basis for rethinking an industry but then you arrive at 100k for a WWII Cessna with an ipad and 15 grand more if you want the second ipad. That's a disconnect to me. A new Nissan Versa sedan with fancy paint and computers start at 12 grand total.

So glad no high revving Rotax, that requires a ridiculous process just to check the oil! Would much rather have a more modern version of the Continental power-plant, for a of the reason pointed out in this video. Would be great to have a more powerful GA version of this rugged, yet stylish looking LSA. 👍🇺🇸💪

a challenge we love to meet

I think LSA is market focused rather than production focused so believe the company will be hard pushed to get the price point they want from volumes. Light sports has become a luxury goods, easy to fly space and not an easy to buy belts and braces utility one especially a utility one that has a minimal payload offering regardless of having a "real" aerospace engine for the money.

Get it ceramic coated on top of the wrap... If it works so well for cars, it seems that'd be worth a try to have it professionally done and get the lifetime warranty

I would like to see them make an affordable family vacationer

i weigh 165, my brother in law weighs 270.......that only leaves 2.5 gallons for fuel.......too weak...o-200 D has other problems, more expensive at tbo's and preventative maintainence costs....i like the plane, but if i got one i would sell the o200 and replace it with rotax 912is 100 hp with turbo, to make this a real bush plane.....the paradise looks very similiar to this and has a useful payload of 775 lbs.....so i bought the paradise...

Looks like it doesn't have parachute? Mandatory in Europe for LSA and probably boosting price and weight. Live the roomy cockpit.

Funny - wasn't sure here - took a minute. Love the A/c, love the ctl wing, performance, O-200 is great (proper engine), float-inspired is awesome. Big cabin, folding seats (genius) - all GREAT. Things that I am not sure about are useful load (floated that'll be interesting too), too much tech (for an LSA), and price (it's not cheap and won't attract the "younger crowd" with its pricing). So my thinking is to have a starter (perhaps upgradable) option for (say) $85K with much less tech making it more of an LSA. I feel this is a great aircraft but, apart from the economies of scale/manufacturing tech (which is interesting and great to see in aviation), I am not seeing it "revolutionize" anything - but will be glad to be proven wrong.

I emailed Vashon 3 times with a few questions. Never did get a reply. Funny way to sell an aircraft??

The reason people get the 2 screen model is for redundancy. I'm surprised they have only 1 radio. Redundancy is safe.

wish I had one.

LSA is where the market is and should go. Even for long range flights that some less elite populace would be using such for.

ADS-B for 2020 requirements?