Hey y'all:
Here's the deal, I'm building on my CH701 and it's gone MUCH slower than I ever imagined it would go. I'm thinking about buying something to fly while I build. There are a couple of airplanes available close by. There's a Rans 5 with a BRS chute and a tailwheel in a box included. It's got the Rotax 503. I don't know if it's free air or fan cooled. It's registered ELSA and doesn't look bad....other than it's natural ugliness.

There's a Fisher FP-202 with a 447 in it that belongs to an A&P and has had good care. It sure looks nicer but has 5" wheels on it. Those won't work for me and will require research and development on some sort of off field gear. It's also an ELSA so both airplanes can be inspected and signed off by me.

If y'all were looking for an impossibly slow ride just to keep current and enjoy the scenery which one of these little bastards appeals to you?

Then there's a Taylor monoplane too.......Lyc O-145 Who knows about that engine? The nice thing about this little bugger is that it's not a back country bird. It could remain in the hangar for a different kind of flying. I dunno.

http://www.barnstormers.com/classified_ ... Koala.html
http://www.barnstormers.com/classified_ ... -+LSA.html
http://www.barnstormers.com/classified_ ... +S-5+.html


Just blow yourself up with out loud thinking. Which one do YOU like?

Go find a local rental. When you're done flying you can toss the keys to the owner and walk away. Any aircraft you buy/own is going to further exacerbate the distraction from completing your build, as you'll have to maintain it and deal with any engine problems on top of building your Zenith.

Trust me, I have thought about it.

ZZzz:

Who said I was interested in GOOD advice? Haha. Thanks for that. I do need to look at reality from time to time.

The Fisher and the Monoplane are fabric on wood construction. The Rans is aluminum tubes with dacron sailcloth. Parts and sail sets are readily available for it.
The Fisher looks well built but it only has the 447 engine while the Rans has the 503. The 503 is arguably the best 2 stroke engine that Rotax built. If it is a free air version, it is easy and not too costly to add the fan and shrouds. Heck, you could get a 0 time rebuilt 503 and the Rans for less than the cost of the others.The conversion to T/W (S4) is easy as well and you can put the same "tundra" golf cart tires on it that the 701 uses.
The mono has a very limited appeal to future buyers and does not look to be exceptionally well cared for.
I would think that you would have a better chance of a reasonable resale with the Rans.
As far as the ugly part..... well you are building a 701. That will never win any beauty contest. And I really like the 701.

Get the Rans, fly it until you get the 701 flown off, and sell it for what you have into it.
No rental fees and just the right amount of "distraction".
JMO

Did you notice that the S-5 has the exhaust on the left side in three of the photos but oddly on the right side in one of them? So photoshop at work here to reverse stuff I guess. The odd thing is that the cockpit photo with the pipe on the right shows the instruments turning the right way and the profile shot with the pipe on the left shows the numbers the right way. Very strange Kimosabe.

My yellow Kitfox IV is for sale. You'll never want to finish the 701.

Mister701 wrote:Did you notice that the S-5 has the exhaust on the left side in three of the photos but oddly on the right side in one of them? So photoshop at work here to reverse stuff I guess. The odd thing is that the cockpit photo with the pipe on the right shows the instruments turning the right way and the profile shot with the pipe on the left shows the numbers the right way. Very strange Kimosabe.

You have been spending a LOT of time looking at pictures I see.
I would hazard a guess that the picture with the right sided exhaust was with a different engine. The flap lever is on the right side in all of the pics and all the lettering is correct in all of the photos as far as I can tell. The "remove before flight" pin on the chute seems correct in the right sided pic.
I also see that the ad says the 503 is "new".
Another plus, it will make your 701 seem "fast" by comparison.

The difference is an inverted engine vs an upright engine. The right sided exhaust is with an upright engine and hopefully the 503 is installed that way.
My new guess is that the other pics (left sided) are older pics with the old 447. And the newer looking skins.

Buy the RANS if it flies right now. Faster and higher resale likely because of the large number of RANS supporters and happy owners.

The only reason I have to disagree with Zane about renting is because you will fly more and fly more adventurously with an inexpensive airplane you own - than you will fly renting at $100 an hour for a pavement-only 172.

There are many instances of a good pilot getting very rusty because they stopped flying for a few years while they built an airplane, and those rusty skills contributed to a crash or damage to the new airplane.

My "lower cost" statement completely assumes you already have a hangar/workshop, will do the maintenance on the RANS yourself, you are running on pump car gas, and you will self-insure.

EZFlap wrote:Buy the RANS if it flies right now. Faster and higher resale likely because of the large number of RANS supporters and happy owners.

The only reason I have to disagree with Zane about renting is because you will fly more and fly more adventurously with an inexpensive airplane you own - than you will fly renting at $100 an hour for a pavement-only 172.

There are many instances of a good pilot getting very rusty because they stopped flying for a few years while they built an airplane, and those rusty skills contributed to a crash or damage to the new airplane.

My "lower cost" statement completely assumes you already have a hangar/workshop, will do the maintenance on the RANS yourself, you are running on pump car gas, and you will self-insure.

Thanks for your comments EZ. I have the LSRM mechanic rating now so I can work on ELSA or SLSA for anybody, so even the annuals will not require outside help. Yes to car gas of course and liability insurance only. I can't imagine flying cheaper. Either the Rans or the Koala will also allow me to get the hang of the zero glide approach technique that will transfer to the Zenith. There are Rotax equipped SLSA available to rent locally but not to solo so we're looking north of $200/ hour for rental and instructor. So 25 hours equals the cost of the Rans. I don't have a hangar yet but I have access to one to keep it in until my name pops up on the hangar list. There are several options.

The N number search output indicates that the Rans was certified with a 447 so that makes sense that we have two sets of photos with different engines. The giant ventilation opening in the floor under the stick is amusing too. That will be challenging on those beautiful calm January days when the sun shines and the air temperature hovers in the teens. Assuming that the airplane will outrun a coyote I guess one could shoot through the floor opening if the mood strikes.

EZFlap wrote:
The only reason I have to disagree with Zane about renting is because you will fly more and fly more adventurously with an inexpensive airplane you own - than you will fly renting at $100 an hour for a pavement-only 172.

You will until the engine shits the bed or you prang the prop or something. Then you have another expensive problem to deal with that's taking you backwards.

I'm in a good situation where I can rent good planes and land them anywhere there's an airport marked on the sectional; dirt, turf, gravel, whatever. It's expensive at $114-125/hour (plus $800/year renter's insurance with $80K hull coverage) but I gladly pay that to walk away with no financial investment or anchors around my neck. That's important when I'm throwing money at my build in increments of... Well, you know. Does it limit my adventures? Of course, but it's all for a greater purpose and I accept the sacrifice of less flying time.

I'm just sharing my personal philosophy of how to not become too distracted from the primary mission, which is to get your plane flying. If you have plenty of money, do whatever you like. A man should own 2 airplanes anyway.

Have you sat in a Rans S4-5? I could not fit my 6-2 in my friends, though it may have had to do with his seat arrangement for his 5-6 height.

Zenithguy wrote:Have you sat in a Rans S4-5? I could not fit my 6-2 in my friends, though it may have had to do with his seat arrangement for his 5-6 height.

I have not. I'm about 5'8" and 160 pounds in my work boots. The seller has not responded after several queries. When he does I'll climb in. I suspect it's sold and he's left the ad in Barnstormer's until the check clears. There are two other S4/5s across the country but getting them here is out of the question. I'm only interested in these two airplanes because of the proximity to my home.

It's extremely hard to find hangars here in Northern Nevada. There is half of one about 6 miles from me and one that I don't have to share about 55 miles from me in Minden. Both will require an airplane be put in them. In my pickup a round trip to Minden is about $55. Yeah! The one at N86 cost $4 round trip. N86 isn't even close to an ideal place to be in all other ways though. No power, no water and a pattern calling for both approach and departure from the North. I'm taking a look at the one at N86 tomorrow. I'll be sharing it with a motor glider.

In other words there is more than one motivation to buy the Rans. The Koala maybe not so much. I think it will be a bitch to sell in a year or so.

What about Air Sailing? I've not flown there, but perhaps they will rent hangar space.

Hangars are that rare at Stead??? Things must have changed since I last visited.

EZFlap wrote:What about Air Sailing? I've not flown there, but perhaps they will rent hangar space.

Hangars are that rare at Stead??? (yes, unless you can afford $600/mo for a T hangar) Things must have changed since I last visited.

I haven't been up to sky sailing yet. I talked to my FSDO mechanical inspector on how to get in there but I forgot already. It's hidden knowledge....kind of like the Kabala or something. "Take a left at the mailbox after the big red rock on the right then drive 1.2 clicks to blah blah blah. I've just driven up to N86. Most of the guys there are using solar and an inverter for the rare time you need power. I think it will be fine. There is a plan afoot for E0 car gas. There is a source in town and they have a tanker with an empty compartment. The airport is semi private. They lease the ground from BLM.

Here's one you might look into.
Folding wing with a trailer.

http://www.barnstormers.com/listing_ima ... ?id=931295

delete

S-12Flyer wrote:Here's one you might look into.
Folding wing with a trailer.

http://www.barnstormers.com/listing_ima ... ?id=931295

I saw that one. Not a flyer.

courier guy wrote:delete

Not allowed. What?

Mister701 wrote:

S-12Flyer wrote:Here's one you might look into.
Folding wing with a trailer.

http://www.barnstormers.com/listing_ima ... ?id=931295

I saw that one. Not a flyer.

Sorry, it didn't mention that in the ad.