www.sportaviationmagazine.com - Dan Johnson gives us his thoughts about flying the RANS S20 Raven light sport aircraft. The S20 was introduced earlier this year at the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring Florida.
Deliveries of the Raven started in June of this year and RANS has delivered over 25 kits to customers.
"The S-20 is the best of two great planes that have been in production at Rans since the '80s," reported the company. "We created a new fuselage and took the wings, tail, fuel system, and aero servo ailerons from the S-7S Courier, and engine system, control sticks, flap lever, rudder pedals, seats, and instrument panel from the Coyote II S-6S. The intent was to answer the many requests for a side by side bush plane, equal to or beyond the Courier."
Coyote is a model series derived from that original single seat Coyote leading to a two side-by-side design. As you can tell from the S-6S suffix - it's one of several such model definitions - Coyote II (for two place) has has sold thousands for Rans, resulting in variation upon variation. The aircraft is available as a kit, as an SLSA, and therefore can be sold as an ELSA. Randy believes that S-20 really delivers what people were seeking.
He said the S-7 is "roomy, easy to get in and out of, solid feeling, tough enough to do bush flying or on floats, and generally has the size that our customers want." Indeed, Raven fits customers well with its 46.5-inch cabin width and the huge 50-inch long doors that make entry so easy. These were used on the Courier due to the tandem seating (it greatly helps entry to and exit from that model) but wide access is also easier to load S-20's ample 21 cubic foot, 80-pound baggage area.
After it first took to the air in December of 2013, impressions of the newest Rans airplane began flowing. "Flight testing shows a faster cruise and slower stall by a couple of knots. The clean aerodynamics of the engine cooling system and less wetted area of the fuselage are the reason for increased performance. Even the glide ratio has improved, at a solid 9.4 to 1," reported Rans.
Even though Raven is wider than the lean, tandem S-7 Courier, the new model has an edge. Company reps continued, adding that handling is crisp with light controls that are well balanced. "Flying a slow approach into a short mountain strip will present little challenge," noted Rans. "Equipped with large bush tires and vortex generators will increase the Raven's back country utility."
With wings from the S-7 Courier that is such a sweet flying aircraft, I wondered how people are perceiving the differences. Randy explained that while Raven is indeed similar, "Raven is evolving its own personality. The fuselage differences mean the occupants experience it in another way, but they see S-20 as a smooth, quiet, 'Cadillac' ride." Raven is comfortable for its occupants thanks to upholstered seats with five-inch fore and aft adjustment that be changed in-flight. Pilots may also enjoy three seat-back recline settings.
Combining the side-by-side seating that more pilots like - because you can see and communicate with your passenger - with the delightful flight qualities of the Courier suggests the Raven could be THE ONE ... the airplane in Rans' fleet that could appeal to the most pilots which in turn forecasts that it might become their best seller.
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www.sportaviationmagazine.com - RANS S20 Raven pilot report by Dan Johnson
14 сен 2014
