My buddy and I, along with my two boys are building a Rans S-21 Outbound. Our wing kit arrived today. Right off the bat I was amazed at the quality of the parts! I plan to keep this thread up to date as the build progresses. We have no timeline on the build, as we both have real jobs and families, but I’m optimistic that it will progress quickly as the the different kits arrive. We have settled on the Titan 340 to power this beast and plan to build it in the tailwheel configuration. Wish us luck!

Jim unloading the crate:

My Christmas Morning look:

My floor sweepers, rivet pullers, and best buddy’s

Parts!

Awesome!!

Nice! I look forward to following your progress.

Brett


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Jered:

Congrats on involving your two kids!! Speaking from personal experience, it will do nothing but slow you down and take longer, but there is nothing better you can do for them. Soooooo much healthier than setting in front of video games.

Good luck with the build and keep up the good work with the younguns. It pays off in end.

L

Ahhh looking forward to the build! Congrats ![emoji41][emoji1303][emoji1063]


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Those kids will be useful for one of the most onerous tasks of building a RANS kit, getting those sticky label off with the part numbers on them. Laugh now, but you will see what I mean. Hey if that's my biggest complaint after building two S-7's I guess they are doing most things right!

I'm looking forward to following your build Jared. Even tough it slows things down I love working with my kids.

Lots of us will be watching this build. I've admired the RANS operation for a long time. I even rode my motorcycle to their factory for a flyin in the late 90s. I'm pretty familiar with how their tube and rag designs go together, but seeing how their all metal machine assembles will be very interesting. I saw the initial factory fuselage at Oshkosh this summer. It fell off the trailer at freeway speed and survived with just a big dent in the side. That was pretty amazing, but Randy added additional stringers and I think one more bulkhead in the fuselage after that incident. It is an interesting plane that doesn't have any direct competition in the kit market right now (2 seat SBS, capable of using a big engine, all metal). Good luck with the process and good luck teaching those kids some real world skills and showing them there is more to life than the glow of the TV, or game system screen!

Super exciting. Building an airplane is an emotional rollercoaster and kit delivery is certainly an up day I wish Bearhawks went together as easily as Rans kits. I am jealous.

Thanks for all the encouraging words. My buddy and I have had lots of airplane dreams and schemes over the past several years, it’s exciting that one of them is actually happening! I’m pretty jacked to do it with my kids. I have dreamed of doing a build or restoration with them since they were born. I’m pretty adamant that they learn a trade eventually, and teaching them mechanical skills and craftsmanship should help with that, I hope. Plus, it’s fun! More to come......

I am thinking really hard about building an S-21.

I need to start saving my pennies. (On that thought, whats the rough guess on the finished cost for the S-21?)

The S-21 would be fun. I could use it quite a bit on the farm for getting around. And it would give me practice building planes. That way I know what I am doing on one of RANS's next models, which apparently Randy's wife will kill me if I mention it.

ShadowAviator wrote:I am thinking really hard about building an S-21.

I need to start saving my pennies. (On that thought, whats the rough guess on the finished cost for the S-21?)

The S-21 would be fun. I could use it quite a bit on the farm for getting around. And it would give me practice building planes. That way I know what I am doing on one of RANS's next models, which apparently Randy's wife will kill me if I mention it.

Next model? I must know. I'm still trying to decide which RANS model my airplane money is being saved for.

Your sacrifice will be remembered if Shelly kills you.

Kansas Flyer wrote:

ShadowAviator wrote:I am thinking really hard about building an S-21.

I need to start saving my pennies. (On that thought, whats the rough guess on the finished cost for the S-21?)

The S-21 would be fun. I could use it quite a bit on the farm for getting around. And it would give me practice building planes. That way I know what I am doing on one of RANS's next models, which apparently Randy's wife will kill me if I mention it.

Next model? I must know. I'm still trying to decide which RANS model my airplane money is being saved for.

Your sacrifice will be remembered if Shelly kills you.

Well its nothing confirmed. Mainly a thought in Randy's head.

I think it depends on how the S-21 does. I asked Randy about trying to design a four place RANS (kinda like a cessna 170 or 180).

He didn't really confirm or deny anything. I think its fairly far off, though. They are busy finishing the S-21.

I guess they get alot of calls asking about new features, progress, and models. I can imagine that would get very annoying. I think they usually post new stuff on facebook.

The performance numbers listed on the website in combo with the price ($25k + engine + prop) make this thing seem so cool. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

-Asa

I'm really excited to see some of these S-21s come together, but I think it's more like $35k+engine+prop according to their price sheet? I sure would like to build one, but the prices of most kits are more than enough to buy a flying plane...

Regardless, to the OP: keep the pics coming as you build!! It's gonna be a great time

coloradokevbot wrote:I'm really excited to see some of these S-21s come together, but I think it's more like $35k+engine+prop according to their price sheet? I sure would like to build one, but the prices of most kits are more than enough to buy a flying plane...

Regardless, to the OP: keep the pics coming as you build!! It's gonna be a great time

Yep, you're correct, I must've not wanted a fuselage the first time I ran through it...

asa wrote:Yep, you're correct, I must've not wanted a fuselage the first time I ran through it...

That would definitely reduce the build time! [emoji38]


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A lot has happened in the last week! First order of business was making a work bench. I made the bench out of 9 1/2” x 14’ TJI i-joists and 3/4” plywood. In hind sight, I should have used a better grade plywood or mdf. Some sanding and couple heavy coats of white paint smoothed out the surface pretty well.

As soon as the paint was dry on the bench, the boys got their first lesson: “They’re called CLECOS, not CLINCOS!!!”




The right aileron is finished and left is close, excpet for balancing. I’m extremely impressed with the quality of the parts and ease of assembly. We’ll have both ailerons finished in less than 10 hrs build time!

Enjoying this with great interest! Keep the updates coming!