Rans S-7 Courier Explained

The Rans S-7 Courier is an American single-engined, tractor configuration, two-seats in tandem, high-wing monoplane designed by Randy Schlitter and manufactured by 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.

The S-7 features a welded 4130 steel tube cockpit, with a bolted 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.

The Courier is available only with conventional landing gear but can be equipped with floats and skis. The original basic engine was the Rotax 503 of 500NaN0, with the Rotax 582 of 640NaN0 being available as an option. Today the standard engine is the 1000NaN0 Rotax 912ULS. 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. 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
  • Initial version, standard engine 500NaN0 Rotax 503, 640NaN0 Rotax 582 engine optional.[3]
    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 light-sport aircraft (ELSA). Standard engine is the 1000NaN0 Rotax 912ULS.[10] [13]
    S-7LS
  • Sold as a factory-assembled ready-to-fly US Special light-sport aircraft, the S-7LS is a factory-assembled version of the S-7S. Standard engine is the 1000NaN0 Rotax 912ULS.[10] [15]

    Notes and References

    1. Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 65. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
    2. Downey, Julia: 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 69. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
    3. Web site: S-7S Courier. 22 November 2010. Rans. n.d..
    4. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 239. BAI Communications.
    5. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 157. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
    6. Taylor, John (ed): Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1986-1987, pages 701-702. Jane's Publishing Company, 1986.
    7. Taylor, John (ed): Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1987-1988, pages 698-699. Jane's Publishing Company, 1987.
    8. Taylor, John (ed): Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-1989, pages 592-594. Jane's Publishing Company, 1988.
    9. Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 68. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
    10. 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 (United Kingdom)|Civil Aviation Authority]
    12. Book: Partington, Dave . European registers handbook 2010 . 2010. Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. Coulsdon, Surrey. 978-0-7106-2916-6 .
    13. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 76. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015.
    14. Web site: How To Buy a Used RANS S-7. 30 December 2020. Prizio. Dave. AVweb. 29 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201230132354/https://www.avweb.com/features/how-to-buy-a-used-rans-s-7/. 30 December 2020. live.
    15. Web site: S-7LS Coyote II. 30 November 2010. Rans. n.d..

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