Engineering:Rans S-16 Shekari
| S-16 Shekari | |
|---|---|
| Role | Amateur-built aerobatic monoplane |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Rans Inc |
| Designer | Randy Schlitter |
| First flight | 1994 |
| Introduction | 1998 |
| Status | Production completed June 2006 |
| Number built | 22 (as of December 2004) |
The Rans S-16 Shekari is an American single-engined, two-seat, low-wing, aerobatic monoplane designed by Randy Schlitter, built by Rans Inc and sold as a kit for amateur construction.[1][2][3][4][5]
Design and development
Conceived as a new generation of Rans aircraft focusing on quicker built times and higher performance, the Shekari is stressed for dual aerobatics.[3]
The Shekari has a 4130 steel tube-and-fabric forward fuselage with composite covering and 6061-T3 aluminum tube rear fuselage and tail. It is available as either a tail wheel landing gear or tricycle landing gear versions. The wings are removable by one person in ten minutes for storage or trailering.[2][3][5][4]
The S-16 has been flown with the Rotax 912UL of 80 hp (60 kW), but is typically equipped with engines such as the Continental IO-240 of 130 hp (97 kW) and can accept engines up to 160 hp (119 kW). Construction time claimed is 600 to 1500 man-hours, depending on builder experience.[1][2][5][4]
Production of the S-16 was ended as part of Rans' extensive reorganization of its product line on 1 June 2006, after the kit had been available for 8 years. Twenty-two had been completed and flown by the end of 2005.[1][6]
Specifications
Data from Kitplanes,[5] Aerocrafter[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Capacity: One passenger
- Length: 18 ft 8 in (5.69 m)
- Wingspan: 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
- Height: 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
- Wing area: 86.5 sq ft (8.04 m2)
- Empty weight: 850 lb (386 kg)
- Gross weight: 1,300 lb (590 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 32 US gallons (121 litres)
- Powerplant: 1 × Continental IO-240-B piston engine, 130 hp (97 kW)
- Propellers: 3-bladed composite
Performance
- Maximum speed: 220 mph (350 km/h, 190 kn)
- Cruise speed: 160 mph (260 km/h, 140 kn)
- Stall speed: 50 mph (80 km/h, 43 kn) flaps down
- Never exceed speed: 248 mph (399 km/h, 216 kn)
- Range: 980 mi (1,570 km, 850 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,300 m)
- g limits: +9/-9
- Rate of climb: 1,200 ft/min (6.1 m/s)
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Bertrand, Noel; Coulon, Rene (2003). "World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-2004". World Directory of Light Aviation (Lancaster OK: Pagefast Ltd): 194. ISSN 1368-485X.
- Bertrand, Noel; Coulon, Rene (2004). "World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2004-2005". World Directory of Light Aviation (England: Pagefast Ltd). ISSN 1368-485X.
- Downey, Julia (December 1998). "1999 Kit Aircraft Directory". Kitplanes (Primedia Publications) 15 (12): 66. ISSN 0891-1851.
- Downey, Julia (December 2004). "2005 Kit Aircraft Directory". Kitplanes (Belvoir Publications) 21 (12): 77. ISSN 0891-1851.
- Purdy, Don (1998). AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook. BAI Communications. p. 241. ISBN 978-0963640949.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1996). Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory. London, England: Brassey's. ISBN 1-85753-198-1. https://archive.org/details/brasseysworldair0000unse.
- Aero News Network (11 May 2006). "RANS: Light Sport Aircraft Are The Future". http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?printable=1&ContentBlockID=6d11beb7-3213-455e-8a69-fc07a3edac5b&.
External links
- Official website archive on Archive.org
- Photo of an S-16 Shekari
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