It Fly's

[HKSMark4 4]

 

One of my other Aircraft is a Rans S6XL.  It just had it’s first light with a newly installed 912

In late 2019 I discovered a Rans S-6 for sale near Sandpoint Idaho. We (Norm and I) hurriedly drove the 400 miles back to Calgary and returned the next day with a bank draft and trailer.

Arriving back in Calgary, Norm was in awe with the S6’s interior roominess,  fit and finish and incredible speed with only a 582.  Norm fly’s a 912 powered Kitfox IV.

Below are pictures of the Rans as it arrived at the hanger, after adding trim, and one of the mishap damage.  I was surprised to see comments on this site about 582 powered  S-6’s cruising at only 65 mph. .  I previously owned a 582 powered Rans S12, and a 912 powered Rans S12XL. Both of the S-12’s, which are pusher aircraft, flew a lot faster than that. My 582 powered S6 easily flies at 95 mph. Thinking a 3 blade propeller would result in a smoother running engine I replaced the 2 blade wood propeller with a 3 blade quick adjust Ivo Prop.  I always set the Static RPM on 582’s at 6000RPM.  The 3 blade Ivo ran smoother, however cruise speed dropped to 65 mph. I then switched the Ivo to a 2 blade.  It hardly got off of the ground.  So much for Ivo.  Doing some research it was interesting to note that Kitfox outsells Rans in the US but the Europeans prefer the Rans S6.  My 582 powered S6 weighed  only 512lbs. Changing to the 912 added 80 lbs.

– At about the time I started rebuilding my Avid this spring, a friend, as a favor to a  Covid 19 emergency room nurse volunteered to help her transition from a glider pilot to powered flight using my Rans S6. She did take off and landings with no trouble so after a few hours my friend didn’t pay much attention to her flying.  As they were doing circuits she landed long and went off of the end of a runway, hitting a road embankment and ending upside down in a farmer’s field. Amazingly there was very little damage.  The nose gear folded, propeller trashed and the bottom of the cowl scraped.  Even the comm antenna on the fuselage was undamaged.  Since I had a 912 sitting around my friend Norm decided this would be a good time to replace the 582 with a 912. The 912 installation was complete, except for reinstalling the cowl, about the same time as I took my Avid from my home to the hanger.  Norm spends the Winter in Arizona so he thought he should test fly the 912 powered Rans before leaving.  He flew it without the cowl --- now all I have to do is repair and install the cowl.  During the winter the S6 performs much better than the Avid on our poorly maintained grass strip.

[1avidflyer 1983]

Glad you got it all done and ready to go.  Looks nice.   I had one flight in a Rans S6 and it had a 582.  And it did only fly about 65 mph according to the ASI in that plane.  I don't remember what we were running for rpm, but it was probably at least 5000.  The plane did have lots of room in it though, and that was nice.  Also, I don't remember if it had an IVO prop or not.  It was probably 15 years ago.  I bet it will do real well with the 912!  JImChuk

[TJay 1041]

Very nice I got fo fly a S6ES for a while really nice planes. That one also had a 582 and easily would cruise at 85mph. Also loved the roominess. Just couldn't afford it way back then otherwise I would probably have it. Well.... had it by now.