Soaring on thermals

[DieselFan]

What sort of AGL's do you guys fly to get the engine off ability.

[Fairy Flycatcher]

What sort of AGL's do you guys fly to get the engine off ability.

Depends on the conditions, I don't usually like to switch my engine off under 1000' AGL, which gives you only about 2min worth of options with no lift, but usually enough time to restart if you have to.

In ridge-soaring conditions, like Zulu1 mentioned near Sodwana, I think you can switch off much lower....

[Rudix]

Hi Rudi,

Is your Rans based at Kittyhawk? If so, won't you take me for a flip one day? Looks like a stunning microlight to me. Clean, light & full 3-axis!

Won't you please list your performance figures for this aerie?

Henni

Hi Henni,

No, the Rans is at Petit, I just visited Kittyhawk on Saturday, with Rhino burned down it was the closes breakfast spot :D

Yes, sure we must make a plan for a flip, the Rans is a great little plane and I am having great fun flying it.

A few specs:

The plane is currently flying with a Rotax 618 with a NC prop.
Stall speed about 35mph without flaps and +-28mph with full flaps
Top speed (6400 rpm) around 104 mph (1 up with full fuel) This should improve a bit once I put the spats back on.
Cruise anywhere from 65 mph (5300 rpm) to about 90 mph (5900 rpm) I normally fly at about 5600 rpm that gives +- 75 mph burning around 14 lph
Fuel capacity 105L
Takeoff run about 35m, landing as little as 30m with 3 notches of flap.
ROC 1000+ fpm 1 up, about 700 fpm at gross. It climbs quite well at 5800 rpm

Hope to see you on the weekend, hope to do lots of flying, looking at visiting Springs, Witbank and Rhino !

Fly safe,
Rudi

[Henni]

Hi Rudi,

Stunning aircraft! I'll most likely see you at Rhino over the weekend then.

Regards,

Henni

[Massimo]

Rudi or anyone in the know what kind of price can someone expect to pay for a Rans like yours?

[Rudix]

Rudi or anyone in the know what kind of price can someone expect to pay for a Rans like yours?

Depending on engine, they can be build with the 503, 528, 912 or Jabiru 2200A, you are looking at between R120K-R180K, but it is not easy to say, depends on the seller :D

It is a VERY easy and fast kit to build as well but importing a kit from the USA is not the cheapest option.

I am not sure how many there are in SA but there are a few, Rans also has a S6 and S7 that looks like a BushBaby and a new S19 that is a metal low wing plane. The S12 also has a single seat brother the S14.

One of the biggest pluses of the S12 is the SUPERB visibility, reminds you of a chopper !

Rans have been around for a long time, even NASA used a S12 as a drone for research in the space program.

If you are looking at soaring capability there are better options though, my Streak will outperform the Rans any day

Fly safe,
Rudi

[Massimo]

Thanks Rudi,

Not looking for soaring but at other options for a little more speed than Aquilla. Not that i always want to go fast but in times when you do want to its nice to know that you can, so busy investigating other trikes and fixed wings...but there are so many options.

Probably see you saturday at Springs. Weather depending!!
We were supposed to fly to Nylstroom yesterday and after waking up at 5AM to be at the field it was all called off due to this k@k weather.