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 Post subject: Re: Rans S-7s Courier; Anyone have experience or opinions?
PostPosted: 02 Oct 2017, 16:31 
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i'd much rather a vans than a rans

is there some sort of large price gap? i've never researched the rans, just haven't seen anything i've been impressed with (crashes included)

RANS are very popular with the bush/STOL crowd. Totally different market than Van's.


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 Post subject: Re: Rans S-7s Courier; Anyone have experience or opinions?
PostPosted: 02 Oct 2017, 18:49 
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I've flown this plane, it's very nice. Owners health is forcing sale. PM for details.

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 Post subject: Re: Rans S-7s Courier; Anyone have experience or opinions?
PostPosted: 14 Oct 2017, 10:04 
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Location: Overland Park, KS (KOJC)
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I flew out to visit RANs last week in Hays Ks. I took one of my sons and an A&P friend, we had a very nice visit and factory tour. The wind was blowing pretty hard so I didn't get a demo flight.

The factory is a good deal bigger than I'd imagined. Lot's of interesting C&C machines and friendly people. It's spotlessly clean and organized; impressive.

One thing that became clear is that it's going to be easy to build. Since they are building finished LSA planes out there, we got see most of the procedures that go into the build. It all looks straightforward.

I'm going to order the wing kit next week and hopefully get started on the build within the next few weeks.

Jack

I got home and realized I didn't take a single picture. :beechslap:


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 Post subject: Re: Rans S-7s Courier; Anyone have experience or opinions?
PostPosted: 14 Oct 2017, 14:53 
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Jack I'm at fully confident you will build a fantastic machine. Can't wait for my ride!

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 Post subject: Re: Rans S-7s Courier; Anyone have experience or opinions?
PostPosted: 14 Oct 2017, 15:27 
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One thing that became clear is that it's going to be easy to build.



Two of my neighbors, one an A&P, went together and just finished building an S-20. It took them 2.5 years start to finish. The FAA will be here next month for the initial inspection. There were countless calls to the factory as well as other builders and friends when something didn't make sense. Watching them build this only reinforced in me that I would never build a plane. The worst part for them was the paint, the Stewart system caused all kinds of problems and not in a million years would they do it that way again.

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 Post subject: Re: Rans S-7s Courier; Anyone have experience or opinions?
PostPosted: 14 Oct 2017, 21:35 
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Scott

Interesting point. The only thing I'm worried about is the covering and painting. All the other tasks/skills look like they are right in my wheelhouse.

My A&P buddy that went with me to visit the factory covered a Cub with the Stitts Polyfiber system and says it worked well. We talked about it with Randy and he said I could use whatever I want, but what they provide is the best they have come across. My A&P friend said we should probably just go with the factory recommendation.

What they are providing is not actually the Stuart system. If I remember correctly it uses the Stuart glue but uses some other fabric and PPG paint. He liked the Stuart glue because it was water based and he said it worked well. Overall he was big on not using a lot of MEK and other chemicals because they actually build LSA planes and he doesn't his people exposed or the liability. They are not supplying the Stuart paint.

It will be a while before I'm ready to cover anything so I have time for research. I appreciate the tip.
Jack


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 Post subject: Re: Rans S-7s Courier; Anyone have experience or opinions?
PostPosted: 23 Oct 2017, 14:21 
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The worst part for them was the paint, the Stewart system caused all kinds of problems and not in a million years would they do it that way again.

I'm thinking Oratex when I get around to it.


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 Post subject: Re: Rans S-7s Courier; Anyone have experience or opinions?
PostPosted: 23 Oct 2017, 14:33 
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The worst part for them was the paint, the Stewart system caused all kinds of problems and not in a million years would they do it that way again.

something not right there. the stewart system uses a charcoal-based coating for the UV block. The liquids are all water-based and easy to work with. Paint adhesion over the top is very good, you see people using just about anything for paint. IMO your friends had something else going on there.


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 Post subject: Re: Rans S-7s Courier; Anyone have experience or opinions?
PostPosted: 23 Oct 2017, 15:27 
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I placed the order for the wing kit last week. Three weeks to a month for delivery and I'll officially be a part of the great experimental aircraft movement.

I've watched about a dozen hours of Youtube videos on Oratex. I also talked Randy Schlitter at RANs about it and sounds like the major negative is that it's expensive. But, it should save a couple hundred hours on the build time. If you put any value on your time it sounds like you'd come out ahead with Oratex.

The stuff looks like it's easy to put on, but the big bonus is that once it's on, it's done; No painting. I wish Oshkosh were just coming up rather than just ended. Sounds like you can actually work with the fabric in their booth.

My strong inclination right now it towards Oratex.

Jack


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 Post subject: Re: Rans S-7s Courier; Anyone have experience or opinions?
PostPosted: 23 Oct 2017, 16:24 
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Jack, the only complaint i hear about oratex is the tapes being somewhat stubborn, since you can't just keep gluing like with pre-paint systems.

personally i love the stewart system


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 Post subject: Re: Rans S-7s Courier; Anyone have experience or opinions?
PostPosted: 23 Oct 2017, 16:25 
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something not right there. the stewart system uses a charcoal-based coating for the UV block. The liquids are all water-based and easy to work with. Paint adhesion over the top is very good, you see people using just about anything for paint. IMO your friends had something else going on there.


Not easy to work with. One of the guys is an A&P and has painted before. Another friend happened by for a few months last winter and helped out during painting, he's an IA up in Alaska and has painted a lot. While he was here he rebuilt a 175 and did some painting since the booth was set up in the hangar. He wouldn't touch that type paint again either. Their original plan was to take the plane to the local body shop but got talked into this way of doing it. They won't make that mistake again.

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 Post subject: Re: Rans S-7s Courier; Anyone have experience or opinions?
PostPosted: 18 Dec 2017, 15:38 
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I bought the wing kit and had it delivered about a month ago. I got to the first real milestone this weekend; I finished the left wing.

The kit is excellent. All the parts are high quality and everything fits together perfectly. The documentation is excellent, but even still I've spent an inordinate amount of time pouring over the descriptions and drawings. The second wing should go a lot faster.

I'm quite pleased with the pace the project is progressing. The first wing done in a month, I expect to have the right wing done after the New Years break. If I get it done on that schedule, then it will be only 6 weeks to build the wings. I've mentally budgeted 2 years for the project, but it looks like it may go much faster.

Here are some pictures to show that it did happen:

Jack

Attachment:
IMG_2425.JPG


Attachment:
IMG_0845.JPG


Attachment:
IMG_2191.jpg


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 Post subject: Re: Rans S-7s Courier; Anyone have experience or opinions?
PostPosted: 18 Dec 2017, 16:16 
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Is anyone else jealous of JL’s shop? Nicely done on that wing. Look foreword to your build pics... :cheers:

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 Post subject: Re: Rans S-7s Courier; Anyone have experience or opinions?
PostPosted: 18 Dec 2017, 17:05 
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Is anyone else jealous of JL’s shop? Nicely done on that wing. Look foreword to your build pics... :cheers:


My shop is sweet.

I tell people I bought the shop and a pretty nice house came along with it. The bonus is that it's about 1200' from my T-Hangar at KOJC. (Well, I guess you might say my former T-Hangar; it's still not repaired from the storm in March.)

Jack


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 Post subject: Re: Rans S-7s Courier; Anyone have experience or opinions?
PostPosted: 08 Feb 2018, 16:28 
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Joined: 04/01/13
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Location: Overland Park, KS (KOJC)
Aircraft: 1975 Bonanza F33A
Update:

The right wing is almost done. Oratex Fabric should be here any day.

With luck, I should start covering the wings this weekend and have them covered before the fuselage gets here in about a month.

This is one of the few projects I've ever started where it looks like it will go faster than predicted. I'm now thinking it will fly Spring of 2019, and take a little over a year.

Attachment:
IMG_6524.JPG


Jack


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