Rans S-7 Courier

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

S-7 Courier
Role
Kit aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer
Rans Inc
Designer Randy Schlitter
First flight November 1985
Status In production (2017)
Number built 600 (2011)
Developed from
Rans S-5 Coyote
Rans S-4 Coyote
S-7 on floats

The Rans S-7 Courier is an American single-engined,

Rans Inc. The Courier is available in kit form for amateur construction or as a completed light-sport aircraft.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Design and development

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.[3][4][6][8][10]

The S-7 features a welded

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.[1][2][4]

The Courier is available only with

Rotax 912ULS.[1][2][3][4] At least one S7 has been fitted with a Jabiru 2200 flat-four, four-stroke direct-drive engine.[11]

Operational history

325 examples of the Courier had been completed by December 2007.[2] In November 2010 74 were on the registers of European countries west of Russia.[12]

Reviewer Marino Boric said in a 2015 review, that, "this refined little fun flyer...continues to prove itself deservedly popular."[13]

In an extensive review in December 2020, AVweb writer Dave Prizio praised the design's ergonomics and economics, "a nice feature of the S-7 is its ample 30-inch-wide cabin. Even for large people, there is no need to squeeze into an S-7 the way you might into a Cub. It will pretty much do the same thing as a Super Cub at a lower operating cost."[14]

Variants

S-7 Courier
S-7
Initial version, standard engine 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503, 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine optional.[3]
Rans S-7C Courier
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 and was not a commercial success as the primary aircraft category was not widely adopted.[3][10][13][14]
S-7S
Kit version of the S-7C, introduced in 2003. Qualifies as a US Experimental
Rotax 912ULS.[3][5][10][13]
S-7LS
Sold as a factory-assembled ready-to-fly US Special
Rotax 912ULS.[3][10][15]

Specifications (S-7S)

S-7C instrument panel
An S-7 at Brioude in France

Data from Kitplanes[1][2]

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 (630 km, 340 nmi)
  • Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 8.37 lb/sq ft (40.9 kg/m2)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

  1. ^ a b c d Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 65. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  2. ^ a b c d e Downey, Julia: 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 69. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Rans (n.d.). "S-7S Courier". Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  4. ^
    ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  5. ^ a b Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 157. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
  6. ^
    ISBN 0-7106-0835-7
  7. ISBN 0-7106-0850-0
  8. ^
    ISBN 0-7106-0867-5
  9. ^ Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 68. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  10. ^ a b c d e Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 72. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  11. ^ Civil Aviation Authority, GINFO Search Results, retrieved 1 October 2013
  12. ISBN 978-0-7106-2916-6
    .
  13. ^
    ISSN 1368-485X
  14. ^ a b Prizio, Dave (December 29, 2020). "How To Buy a Used RANS S-7". AVweb. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  15. ^ Rans (n.d.). "S-7LS Coyote II". Retrieved November 30, 2010.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to RANS S-7 Courier.
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