@ GBFlyer

Yeah, I think I wasn't very clearly expressing what I meant when I wrote

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Maybe even offer some light weight carbon fiber pieces like on main wings tips.

I was not really trying to discuss weight reduction. I meant to suggest that just as RANS indeed does already offer carbon fiber wing tips, perhaps similar ones ( like on main wings tips ) could be developed and adapted as an add on to the current square ends of the horiz stab. I suppose such rounded carbon fiber horizontal stab tips could even be added to an already completed plane, hence the concern about potential tail flutter.

Truth be told, I agree with you that the squared off ones look pretty darn sharp already. Maybe someone here could photoshop such a change to provide a side by side square vs rounded tail comparison. I'd love to be able to see each version side by side before committing on the build. Choice is good.

Hmmm ... did someone also mentioned rounded carbon fiber main wing tips rather than square for ther S20?..discussion for another day.

I got ya now.

I don't know a Hell of a lot about it, but the way Rans has the builder balance the elevators, I doubt flutter would ever be a concern with round or square ends. Joel Milloway rounds off a bunch of stuff, seems like elevator too.

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February 2016

I see the RANS just received FAA approval for a complete ready to fly SLSA version of their S20.

Link:

http://www.bydanjohnson.com/index.cfm

I have looked at their finished planes. They do a great job. Kind of depressing for us average and below average builders who duct tape our miserable way to the 40 hour Flyoff Phase.

Nice!!! I have looked at the S-20 since it made its debut at Oshkosh a few years ago. Very nice plane from a great company.

The Kit Fox SS7 can also to be purchased as an SLSA. The S-20 and the Kitfox SS7 are very similar in their catagory and I think either one would make a great choice.

I am wondering if Mr. Johnsons estimate of a $60K completion price for the kit might be a litte 'optomistic' though. Bare bones basic I suppose it could be done, or with a used engine. Parts and accessories costs semm to have a way of multiplying in cost faster than a guy thinks. Maybe gbflyer can post a 'guesstimate' of the final tally of the one they recently constructed. This would give anyone contemplating buying, an actual cost estimate. Just my $.0002.

Interesting this topic came back up. I've been increasingly serious about kit shopping. I'd like to go side-by-side with my kids, and I keep coming back to the S-20.

You could do one for $60K if you covered it yourself, stock tires, tail wheel, and brakes and a bare minimum panel. I'm not sure if you'd get a brand new engine on it for that, though...maybe.

We're down to fitting the cowling (which takes a lot of patience), hooking up controls, rigging, and tightening nuts. It's going to be a cool airplane. I personally like the S7S better and he's made some improvements on the new ones.

If you embark on this journey, keep in mind it is at its core a home built aircraft and some of the "frugalness" in design and material will leave you scratching your head. It is designed for function and light weight. There are some things that are still being worked out. Rans is very good at continuing to refine the process and their support is pretty good.

We looked at Kitfox and Just. Flew them all. We built two Rans airplanes.

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gbflyer said:
We looked at Kitfox and Just. Flew them all. We built two Rans airplanes.

I like the Kitfox a lot, but it has flaperons, not true separate flaps. I suppose that's more my problem than a hangup with the Kitfox design. The RANS S7 and S20 still very much have my interest as does the Just SSTOL XL. For certified I am a big fan of the American Champion Scout and Scout Denali.

Hey, and a second Vans R7 tailwheeler in the hanger with 200 HP would not be bad either

You have to fly the Kitfox and the Just. The Rans is like a Cessna...rides along with the bumps and wants to stay right side up.

It all boils down to personal preference. Nothing horribly wrong with any of them.

gbflyer wrote:You have to fly the Kitfox and the Just. The Rans is like a Cessna...rides along with the bumps and wants to stay right side up.

It all boils down to personal preference. Nothing horribly wrong with any of them.

Totally agree!! The personal preference is spot on. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes of any plane they fly. I think it comes down to what a person is use to.
I met a gentleman in PA last year that owns and flies a very nice RANS S7, he did exactly this...he tried out the S-20 and the new Kitfox SS7. From what I recall in the conversation, for his type of flying, he felt the Kitfox flew and handled much nicer. I can't recall exactly what he said but he is now constructing a Kitfox SS7, and has a very nice RANS S7 in his hangar. He posts on the team kitfox forum if anyone is curious.

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WWHunter wrote:
............for his type of flying, he felt the Kitfox flew and handled much nicer.....

When it comes to Flaperons vs Flaps & Ailerons vs Ailerons only, is there any particular " type of flying" which would favor one type of wing over the other(s). I am just curious.

I have never flown a flaperon type plane.

Denali, check your PM's.