I'm at the point in life where I am asking myself if I really want the hassle of qualifying for a medical every two years. I'm thinking about going LSA and there are two airplanes that intrigue me, the Carbon Cub and the Rans S7. I had a demo ride in a Carbon Cub a few weeks back and although conditions weren't ideal (gusty winds and an inexperienced demo pilot) I could see the airplane is everything everyone says it is. If I were to go LSA it is at the top of my list, however it has three major drawbacks - it burns 100LL which I believe may soon be unobtainable in many areas, it costs lots of money, and finally the rear seat is difficult to get in to, uncomfortable once you do get into it, and you need to be a gymnast to get out again. This last drawback may be the most important, as the CFO won't be pleased the first time she tries to get into the thing.

While it doesn't have quite the appeal to me that the Carbon Cub has, the S7 looks like it may solve some of these problems - less than half the price, burns car gas, and has a real back seat, not a sling. So, my question is, does Rans have a dealer network? Is there somewhere within a couple hours drive of Washington DC where I could see, sit in, and maybe even fly one?

Best,
O-2

OscarDuce -

I just had two Ran's S7 pilots from eastern Tennessee stop in my place over night. We took them to a few of our hot spots. One of them is a dealer and his plane was a certified fly-away, while the other was experimental.

After spending the last three years chasing Greg Swingle around in his S7, I am really impressed. Greg has put at least 1500 hours on his and it is still going strong, and I mean it has been places too!

I laid awake last night running numbers in my head. These two today flew about 7-8 mph slower then my scout, yet they were burning 4.5 gph, while I burn 10 gph. They can do auto gas with ethanol too, that is another $1.50/ gallon less.

At my current rate of 600 hrs/year I burn $30,000 in gas, and in one of those S7's it would be less then $10,000. An instant $20,000 pay raise for me???? I am thinking hard.

They will be at this fly-in in Elizabethton, TN in late Sept. http://www.supercub.org/forum/showthrea ... tober-2011

John,
What are the legalities of using a E-LSA or LSA for pipeline patrol or aerial photography.
I have a friend with 20,000 hrs of aerial photography time that can't
get a medical anymore. Sounds like a great option if it would work.
Dave

I know of a couple S-7 drivers on Marylands eastern shore PM me and I'll try to round up some contact info.

Foxflyer wrote:I know of a couple S-7 drivers on Marylands eastern shore PM me and I'll try to round up some contact info.

PM sent, and thanks!

Dave, I don't know, but if it is certified, it doesn't matter if it is light sport does it?? That's what I was assuming. I would look into that before pulling any triggers.

Ithink Rans has a S7S that is certified, Thats what you may want/ need and not their light sport
Doug

I just acquired an Older S-7 (short tail) a few days ago. What a figgin blast to fly. This particular S-7 has been sitting for 11 years, has 144 hrs. TT, and I was the first to take it up. It flew like a dream. Bugger is a literal rocket ship in T/O and climb compared to either my Champ or 172. I am now looking for a set of amphibs to put on it so I can play up here in gods country. My only complaint with the S-7 is the location of the flap handle. Darn thing is down below the seat, sort of under the left knee. I have a medical issue that prevents me from bending much so I can not easily reach it. Even with the shoulder straps removed I have a hard time getting to it. Plus, I do NOT like the idea of having to remove my shoulder straps in a landing situation. I am now looking into putting electric flaps on it which I have always dispised. But a guy sometimes has to compromise.
Oscar Duece, I would love to have a Carbon Cub also but for the money saved on buying this Rans I think I will be quite happy. I would have to sell all the planes I own and probably still need more money to be able to purchase the Carbon Cub. That is one expensive toy!!! In kit form a guy could possibly build one for around $100-120K but buying one already buillt you need to add $50K to that for the basic version!! Yep, $170,000!!!! One can buy a factory build Rans S-7 for half of that amount and have lots of money left over for 91 octane car gas.
WW

WWhunter:

I agree regarding the price. With my schedule building is probably out of the question, although if building it yourself got the Carbon Cub down around the price of a factory built Rans I might reconsider - but it won't. Maybe I should buy a Rans and fly it until there are some reasonably priced "used" carbon Cubs?

Best,
O-2

It seems the grin/fun factor is equally as high for both planes, yet the Rans S7 is dramatically less to operate. I am stilly kicking myself for not ordering one of the original Certified models (before LSA) when they were around $75k or less from the factory... 10 years ago..

Not sure on pipeline/etc. Commercial operations is a sticky one. LSA one would be the most likely. Experimental, well we know that answer. Thing is can you give up night operations/etc by going with the LSA.

I have only flown the S7 and not a carbon cub. Carbon cub might be a bit sexier.

WWhunter wrote:My only complaint with the S-7 is the location of the flap handle. Darn thing is down below the seat, sort of under the left knee. I have a medical issue that prevents me from bending much so I can not easily reach it. Even with the shoulder straps removed I have a hard time getting to it. Plus, I do NOT like the idea of having to remove my shoulder straps in a landing situation. I am now looking into putting electric flaps on it which I have always dispised. But a guy sometimes has to compromise.

Paging EZFlap....

0-2,
LMAO.....I actually had already thought of that. I was going to talk to Bill at Oshkosh if I can steal a moment of his busy schedule.
The other option that I am currently looking at is to mount a linear actuator. Only adds a pound and would aleviate the issue. Only downside is I much prefer manual flaps.
On a side note I just wrote you a huge response on the CC vs. S-7 dilema and it wasn't posted. Pi$$ed me off. I hate doing all that typing only to lose it.
Anyway the jest of it was that a used flying Rans S-7 can be found for a third of the price of what the kit for the CC will cost you. That is a major difference!!! One could rent or always find another option if needed when that special circumstance leads one to feel that only the CC can accomplish the mission. Heck people have been getting by thus far why can't we comtinue.
WW

The flap handle location does suck, although I am used to it. WW - get the inertial reel harness from Rans - solves the shoulder issue. I know some have come up with their own configuration to put it over head. Electric is an easy mod - join the Yahoo S7 group and there are pics by a guy named Ollie.

I know a guy that had the prototype carbon cub (now sold) and my old S7 (along with a few others he's owned). He loves them both, but admits the CC is a a rocket. The S7 only slightly less so, and yes...way cheaper.

I am not sure if an LSA is restricted from certain commercial ops??? Maybe a sport pilot would be, but not sure about an LSA.

WWhunter wrote:0-2,
LMAO.....I actually had already thought of that. I was going to talk to Bill at Oshkosh if I can steal a moment of his busy schedule.
The other option that I am currently looking at is to mount a linear actuator. Only adds a pound and would aleviate the issue. Only downside is I much prefer manual flaps.
On a side note I just wrote you a huge response on the CC vs. S-7 dilema and it wasn't posted. Pi$$ed me off. I hate doing all that typing only to lose it.
Anyway the jest of it was that a used flying Rans S-7 can be found for a third of the price of what the kit for the CC will cost you. That is a major difference!!! One could rent or always find another option if needed when that special circumstance leads one to feel that only the CC can accomplish the mission. Heck people have been getting by thus far why can't we comtinue.
WW

WW:

Thamks for taking the time, even if it did get zapped by gremlins hiding in this site - had it happen to me, too. I admit I'd probably never used a quarter of the Carbon Cub's capability. It's the "cool" factor, and the fact I admire that Cub Crafters was able to sneak a "real" airplane into the LSA ranks. I guess that's why I want to get my hands on a real, live Rans - to see if it passes the "real airplane" test. And because I know someone will ask, what exactly constitutes a real airplane? Well, I don't know but for my, I know it when I see it!

At the risk of hijacking my own thread, another interesting airplane I left off the list is the Savage Cub. Don't hear too much about them here. Anyone have any experience?

Best,
O-2

I have perhaps 15 hours in a Savage Cub. I liked it a lot. The aircraft was late being delivered and was shipped with (what I thought was...) a second-rate prop; I believe this is why my S-7 seemed to outperform it in climb and cruise. I thought build-quality was outstanding. It's a great looking aircraft. I'd certainly be proud to own one.