Rans S-12 Airaile Explained

The Rans S-12 Airaile is a family of related American single-engined, pusher configuration, high-wing monoplanes designed by Randy Schlitter and manufactured by Rans Inc. The aircraft are available in kit form for amateur construction.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Production of the S-12S Airaile, S-14 Airaile, S-17 Stinger and S-18 Stinger II was ended as part of Rans' extensive reorganization of its product line on 1 June 2006. The S-12XL Airaile was originally intended to be cut from the line at the same time, but customer demand convinced the company to retain the model. As of 2015, the model is still available as a special order.[9]

Design and development

The S-12 Airaile was designed by Randy Schlitter and introduced in March 1990 as a two-seat side-by-side, tricycle gear ultralight aircraft for recreational and flight training use. The single-seat version of the S-12, the S-14 Airaile, was designed one year later and entered production in 1991. The S-17 Stinger retains the wings, tail, boom tube of the S-14, mated to new forward 4130 steel tube cockpit and equipped with conventional landing gear to create an open-cockpit ultralight that complies with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles regulations. The S-18 Stinger II uses the S-12's wings, tail and boom tube, again with a new forward steel tube fuselage to create a tandem seat, conventional landing gear, open cockpit ultralight trainer.

Like many Rans models, the family features a welded 4130 steel tube cockpit, with a bolted 6061-T6 aluminum tube rear fuselage. All fuselage, wing and tail surfaces are covered in Dacron or, on some models, dope and fabric. The wings are built from aluminium tube and ribs, feature flaps, and are folding or removable.

The present-day S-12XL is powered by the Rotax 503 of 500NaN0, with the Rotax 582 of 640NaN0, the Rotax 912UL of 800NaN0 and the Rotax 912UL of 1000NaN0 available as options.[10]

Operational history

The aircraft family has been very well received, with over 1000 S-12s delivered. In 1998 Kitplanes magazine said that the S-14 has "squeaky clean handling feels like a little jet, but lands like an ultralight".

Variants

S-12 Airaile
  • Original model. Production completed.
    S-12S Super Airaile
  • Similar to XL, but with dope and fabric covering. Production completed.
    S-12XL Airaile
  • Current production model, two seats in side-by-side configuration, Dacron covering. Full cockpit fairing is optional. Estimate construction time 175 man-hours without the full enclosure or 300 with it. Standard engine is the Rotax 503 of 500NaN0, with the Rotax 582 of 640NaN0, the Rotax 912UL of 800NaN0 or the Rotax 912UL of 1000NaN0 optional. Can be equipped with floats. Over 1000 S-12s of all versions delivered and flown in more than 40 countries.[11]
    S-14 Airaile
  • Single-seat version of the S-12, with Dacron covering introduced in 1991. Standard engine was the Rotax 447 of 400NaN0, with the Rotax 503 of 500NaN0 and the Rotax 582 of 640NaN0 optional. Reported construction time 200 man-hours including complete cockpit fairing. Empty weight of 3900NaN0 places the S-14 above the maximum category weight of the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles category. Production completed with 125 completed by December 2004.
    S-17 Stinger
  • Open-cockpit, conventional landing gear, single-seater, equipped with a standard Rotax 447 of 400NaN0 with the Rotax 503 of 500NaN0 optional. Empty weight of 2490NaN0 places the S-17 within weight of the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles category. The aircraft uses the wings, tailboom and tail of the S-14, but is fitted with a new steel tube cockpit structure. While it retains the flap-equipped wing of the S-14, the flaps are fixed. Production completed with 38 completed by December 2004.[5]
    S-18 Stinger II
  • Open-cockpit, conventional landing gear, ultralight trainer with two seats in tandem, standard engine is the Rotax 503 of 500NaN0 with the Rotax 582 of 640NaN0, 800NaN0 or the Rotax 912UL of 1000NaN0 optional. The aircraft uses the wings, tailboom and tail of the S-12XL, but is fitted with a new steel tube cockpit structure. Production completed, with 30 completed by December 2004.

    Notes and References

    1. Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, pages B-48 & B-97. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001.
    2. Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, pages 65-66. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
    3. Downey, Julia: 2005 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 21, Number 12, December 2004, page 53. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
    4. Downey, Julia: 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 69. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
    5. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, pages 240 and 356. BAI Communications.
    6. Web site: S-12XL Airaile. 26 November 2010. Rans. n.d..
    7. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 156-7. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
    8. Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 68. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
    9. Web site: RANS: Light Sport Aircraft Are The Future. 21 November 2010. Aero News Network. May 2006.
    10. Web site: RANS S-14XL Airaile Specifications and Performance. 26 November 2010. Rans. n.d..
    11. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 117. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X

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