Rans S-20 Raven
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name= S-20 Raven | image=RANS S-20 Raven.jpg | caption=RANS S-20 Raven }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Homebuilt aircraft, Light-sport aircraft | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Rans Designs | designer=Randy Schlitter | first flight= | introduced=August 2013 | retired= | status=In production (2015) | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= | program cost= | unit cost= US$$27,500 (kit, less engine, 2015) | developed from= Rans S-6 Coyote II | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Rans S-20 Raven is an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Randy Schlitter and is produced by Rans Designs of Hays, Kansas, introduced at AirVenture in August 2013. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction and it is anticipated that it will later be offered as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft in the light-sport aircraft category.{{cite news|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/RANS-Debuts-S-20-Raven-at-Sport-Expo221279-1.html|title = RANS Debuts S-20 Raven at Sport Expo|access-date = 15 January 2014|last = Bertorelli|first = Paul|date = 16 January 2014| work = AVweb}}{{cite news|url = http://www.airventure.org/news/2013/130802_rans-unveils-new-s20-raven.html|title = RANS Unveils New S-20 Raven|access-date = 18 January 2014|last = Boric|first = Marino|date = 2 August 2013|work = AirVenture|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140201153238/http://www.airventure.org/news/2013/130802_rans-unveils-new-s20-raven.html|archive-date = 1 February 2014}}
Design and development
The S-20 combines features from the Rans S-6 Coyote II and Rans S-7 Courier models. It differs from the S-6 in having the whole fuselage made from welded 4130 steel tubing and not just the cockpit cage and it uses the S-7's wings.Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 123. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}
The aircraft features a strut-braced high-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit accessed via bowed-out top-hinged doors to give increased shoulder room, fixed conventional landing gear or optionally tricycle landing gear made from 7075 aluminum with wheel pants and a single engine in tractor configuration.{{cite web|url = http://www.rans.com/aircraft/kits/s-20-raven.html|title = S-20 Raven|access-date = 18 January 2014|last = Rans Designs|author-link = Rans Designs|year = 2012}}
The aircraft fuselage is made from welded 4130 steel tubing, while the wings are of aluminum construction, with all surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric. Its {{convert|30.25|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing mounts flaps, has a wing area of {{convert|152.7|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} and is supported by "V" struts with jury struts. The cabin has a width of {{convert|46|in|cm|abbr=on}} and features a large overhead skylight. The acceptable power range is {{convert|100|to|160|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} and the standard engines used are the {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 912ULS or the {{convert|130|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} ULPower UL350iS powerplant.
The aircraft has a typical empty weight of {{convert|740|lb|kg|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|1320|lb|kg|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|580|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|26|u.s.gal}} the payload for the pilot, passenger and baggage is {{convert|424|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.
The manufacturer estimates the construction time from the supplied kit as 500–700 hours, with kits forecast to commence shipping in February 2014. A ready-to-fly LSA version is expected to be on the market by late 2015 at a cost of about US$120,000.{{cite web|title=Rans readies Raven for light sport approval|url=http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2015/April/23/Rans-debuts-Raven-tailwheel-bush-plane|access-date=24 April 2015}}
Operational history
In January 2014 one example was registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration, although a total of two had been registered at one time.{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=513DT|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|access-date = 18 January 2014|last = Federal Aviation Administration|author-link = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 18 January 2014}}
Specifications (S-20 Raven taildragger)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=one passenger
|length m=
|length ft=21
|length in=0
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=30
|span in=3
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=6
|height in=7
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=740
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=1320
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|26|u.s.gal}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Rotax 912ULS
|eng1 type=four cylinder, air and liquid-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=100
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=Warp Drive Inc ground adjustable
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=5
|prop dia in=10
|prop note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=112
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=33
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=flaps down
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=130
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=582
|range nmi=
|range note=
|endurance=5.2 hours
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=14500
|ceiling note=
|g limits=+4/-2
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=9.4:1
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=900
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|sink rate ms=
|sink rate ftmin=
|sink rate note=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=8.64
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|RANS S-20 Raven}}
- {{Official website|http://www.rans.com/aircraft/kits/s-20-raven.html}}
- [http://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/RANS-S-20-The-Cub-Archetype-Done-Better-221290-1.html RANS S-20: The Cub Archetype Done Better] by Paul Bertorelli, AVweb
- [http://www.avweb.com/videos/Video-RANS-New-S-20-Raven-Debuts-at-US-Sport-Aviation-Expo-Sebring221281-1.html Video: RANS' New S-20 Raven Debuts at Sport Expo] by Paul Bertorelli, AVweb
{{Rans aircraft}}
Category:2010s United States sport aircraft
Category:2010s United States civil utility aircraft