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Rans S 7 Courier

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The Rans S-7 Courier is an American single-engined, tractor configuration, two-seats in tandem, high-wing monoplane designed by Randy Schlitter and manufactured by Rans Inc. The Courier is available in kit form for amateur construction or as a completed light-sport aircraft.

Contents

Rans S-7 Courier Rans S7 Courier Untitled Aviation Photo 1251078 Airlinersnet

Design and development

Rans S-7 Courier The Rans S7S Aircraft

The S-7 was originally conceived of as a trainer for the single seat S-4 Coyote. First flown in November 1985 the Courier was named for an aircraft that Schlitter admired, the Helio Courier.

Rans S-7 Courier KITPLANES The Independent Voice for Homebuilt Aviation RANS S7S

The S-7 features a welded 4130 steel tube cockpit, with a bolted aluminum tube rear fuselage, wing and tail surfaces all covered in dope and fabric. The reported construction times for the Courier are 500-700 man-hours.

The Courier is available only with conventional landing gear but can be equipped with floats and skis. The original basic engine was the Rotax 503 of 50 hp (37 kW), with the Rotax 582 of 64 hp (48 kW) being available as an option. Today the standard engine is the 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS. At least one S7 has been fitted with a Jabiru 2200 flat-four, four-stroke direct-drive engine.

Operational history

Rans S-7 Courier RANS S7 COURIER

325 examples of the Courier had been completed by December 2007. In November 2010 74 were on the registers of European countries west of Russia.

Reviewer Marino Boric said in a 2015 review, that, "this refined little fun flyer...continues to prove itself deservedly popular."

Variants

S-7
Initial version, standard engine 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503, 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine optional.
S-7C
Refined version introduced in 2001, certified under the US primary category. Certification in the category took seven years of effort by the manufacturer.
S-7S
Kit version of the S-7C, introduced in 2003. Qualifies as a US Experimental light-sport aircraft (ELSA). Standard engine is the 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS.
S-7LS
Sold as a factory-assembled ready-to-fly US Special light-sport aircraft, the S-7LS is a factory-assembled version of the S-7S. Standard engine is the 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS.

Specifications (S-7S)

Data from Kitplanes

General characteristics

  • Crew: One
  • Capacity: One passenger
  • Length: 23 ft 3 in (7.09 m)
  • Wingspan: 29 ft 3 in (8.92 m)
  • Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
  • Wing area: 147.1 sq ft (13.67 m2)
  • Empty weight: 700 lb (318 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,232 lb (559 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 18 US Gallons (68 litres)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912ULS , 100 hp (75 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed adjustable pitch

    • Performance

  • Cruise speed: 118 mph (190 km/h; 103 kn)
  • Stall speed: 41 mph (66 km/h; 36 kn)
  • Range: 390 mi (339 nmi; 628 km)
  • Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 8.37 lb/sq ft (40.9 kg/m2)

    • References

    Rans S-7 Courier Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA