Rans S 10 Sekota

[Johnorr]

Who fly a Rans S10 in S.A.?
I recently bought a S10 plane flew for 6 minutes and was then stored for nearly 20 years.
The wing struts is missing so I want to make wing struts but need the size.

I contacted Rans several times but to get only a manual out of them took me already 6 weeks.
If a S 10 owner can Pm me please.

[thys bas]

Hi Johnorr,

The S10 has 4 wing struts, 2 on the front (main) spars and 2 on the rear spars. Which ones are you looking for? Is yours the older model S10 with bungee type main undercarriage (like the Bushbaby) or the newer type with the spring steel u/c. Unfortunately Rans has discontinued the manufacture of this little aerobatic aircraft a number of years ago, so spares might be a problem.

These struts are critical in length as well as wall thickness and type of material. Please don't just take a piece of aluminum and rivet a strut together, it can kill you. You have to have a stress analyses done on the replacement struts. It might be cheaper to order the correct ones from Rans in the USA. If they can not supply the spares, see if you can get technical specs, including type of aluminum from them. They are always stingy on giving specs, perhaps scared of claims in case of an accident. Good luck.

I have more than 100 hours on the S10 but mine was destroyed in an accident a few years ago near Johannesburg, South Africa.

[Johnorr]

Hello Thys,

Thanks for your comment highly appreciated. I need all four of them and I will get the right things from Rans. Randy the designer of this aircraft emailed me and he
promised the support their product world wide they are just slow with reply probably very busy.

Yes I had the feeling to just make it and I think I can work out the Dihedral but as you stated it must be certified and sure it can cost one's life if that struts break.
It is all that keeps the Rans out of the air but I will wait to get the real parts.

The u/c is just two pipes stick into a socket in the fuselage I do not know if it is new or old type. I've seen pictures of the ones with the bungee a/c I like it more than
the ones on my plane but it is just a feeling will see when I fly it.
According to Randy they start manufacture the S 10 again in 2005 and all parts are available which is good news for me.

Sorry you lost your S 10 but they are available but quite expansive compare to other kits almost same price as a Bush baby.

[thys bas]

Hi Johnorr,

Yours is the newer type with the single leg and no hinge at the fuselage. That pipe leg is spring steel as far as I know.

Yes, the S10 is more expensive because it is build stronger.

Be carefull when you fly it, it is quite difficult on the ground and very responsive in the air. I found it best to hold the control stick with just my fingertips. Movement on the stick is very small, only about between 5mm to 20mm for normal flight in the circuit . The other problem is that you can not see where you are going when the tail is on the ground, and the only way to land is in the three-point position. You can not do wheeled landings in this aircraft, I think it has to do with the rigging angle of the wing. Part of the problem of not being able to see is because the pilot is sitting (lying) fairly flat with his head just above the wing. You loose your side-vision and that makes it very hard to judge you hight above the ground when flaring to land. Landings can become very interesting

But it is great fun to fly.

Best to fly in another tailwheel aircraft first before trying the S10.

Yes I had the feeling to just make it and I think I can work out the Dihedral

It has zero degrees dihedral, and thus no aerodinamic stability. If you put it in a banked turn it will stay there until you tell it otherwise. Remember it is an aerobatic aircraft, not a stable cruiser. You will work the controls all the time until it is back in the hangar

But enjoy the aircraft, as I said, great fun to fly

[Johnorr]

Hello Thys,
Thanks for sharing some facts about the S 10. I found it very interesting.My S10 is the only one in Thailand.
I bought it from my friend Neil on the 9th Of Jan. and on the 12th Jan. Neil had a fatal crash with a Kestrel Hawk.
Neil was the only one in Thailand who could fly the S10 and we was planning after I fix the S10, Neil would give me a few
hours instruction and sign me off on tail draggers now I do not know.

I do not feel comfortable to put the S10 in any instructor's hands,so I start thinking of go and visit the Rans
factory and get a few hours instruction on a S10, may be go for a week to the USA.

As I read from your email it is not the easiest plane to fly.

I would not like to damage my S 10, I will come to that,for now I am just busy to get it air worthy registered
and so on.

To come back to your mail regarding 3 point landings,according to Randy it is designed when it sits on the runway
the wings is in a 9 degree angle of attack which is the perfect attitude for this plane,he also mentioned that
the clearance from the prop to the ground is very small if you come in with a wheel landing.
He said in this attitude of 9 degrees the plane will take off when reaching flying speed.

[thys bas]

He said in this attitude of 9 degrees the plane will take off when reaching flying speed.

Yes that is correct. Take off is not bad. Landing is more of a problem.

Not too bad to fly, but do get proper instruction on another easyer tailwheel aircraft before you attempt the S10. Only a few hours is not enough. If you are a nosewheel pilot it can take you 5 to 10 hours in a easy tailwheeler and more if you use the S10.

[thys bas]

Two pictures showing before and after pictures of my S10. Unfortunately the struts broke in the accident,you can see one of them in the picture.

[Johnorr]

Thys, thanks for posting this pictures I will post of my project too. I do not like to see the first picture. Did you fly it when it crashed?
All I can say the Rans got a extremely strong fuselage, I read on the internet of a woman who crashed her Rans after 250 hrs luckily
when she went down the one wing get touche by a tree top so she crashed into the ground with the right wing first she and her pax servived
with out a scratch.
I am at work in Indonesia will post pictures after the 10th April when at home.
The canopy bubbles can I use normal perspex and just bend it in shape I got the two doors but need the front and back?

[thys bas]

Did you fly it when it crashed?All I can say the Rans got a extremely strong fuselage,

Yes, the Rans is very strong. My son and his instructor were lucky to survive. The instructor damaged his back and picked up superficial wounds. My son was saved by the instructor who loosened the harness and pulled him from under the water. He broke his foot and one leg plus a few facial wounds from the windscreen. But all are well now. This happened in 2006.

Do not use perspex for the windscreen. Rather get the correct material named LEXAN, it is stronger than perspex. While you are ordering struts from Rans, add the windows to your list and get the correct stuff. (A bird strike from a small bird can be deflected by Lexan, but it might end in you face when using perspex)

[Johnorr]

Me on the right and some friends at Pattaya Airpark

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Here are some pics from when I transport S 10 to my home.
I wash the plane with soap and water and it look so much
better now. Will post more pics when I at home later.

[Johnorr]

I transport Rans home a long way the beginning of a journey almost 500Kms.

One more picture.

[Johnorr]

Yes, the Rans is very strong. My son and his instructor were lucky to survive.

I am happy they survived the crash.

It was a beautiful airplane.

[thys bas]

Congratulations! Your S10 looks great. It is a pity some of the spares got lost over time, but it is not a problem, Rans USA are very good. To get the spares to your hangar is sometimes more of a problem. It is much easier if you know somebody who is traveling from the USA to a place near you to bring the spares as part of their luggage. I have done it a few times, even with two undercarriage legs at one time. The local delivery system inside the USA is very good and Rans can send it overnight almost to any point in the USA from where your friend can pick it up and bring it as luggage. If you are prepared to pay a currier company they can deliver it on your doorstep within 3 days.

I am very happy for you. Please keep us updated with your project. It should not take too long to get to your first taxi. You know how it goes, 90% completed and 90% to go

[Johnorr]

Thanks Thys,

You right it can't take too long to get the Rans ready. I had contact with the Rans company now.
They just had a problem with my address in Thailand but I will send them tracking numbers from
USpost and DHL of deliveries from the USA before, that might enable them to send my parts hopefully.

I will post some pics and a update about my project later.

[Johnorr]

I start with the Rans S 10. This plane was built by Rans technicians in Thailand the previous owner ordered it from Rans on a world show for planes.
He flew it for 6 minutes and smoke enter the cockpit he land and stored the plane since then till I bought it from him nearly 20 years.
ordered all the parts I need from Rans .Here is a few photos.