He won't post it, so I will....

West Desert Airpark is owned by Mark Pringle - Western States Dealer for Rans. Super guy. Good footage of his plane that was shown in Kitplanes last month, along with courierguy. He said he and another S7 should be at Johnson Creek this year hopefully. I love how they just lift a Rotax 912S back on a shelf...

I don't know...that was pretty tame for a Swingle video!

Still enjoyed it though! Thanks!

Emfly,

Would you mind sharing how much the S7 costs to build, how much time and how the building experience was?? I love watching Swingle's flying exploits and the S7 truly looks like a magic carpet ride. You get the panel award however.

I burn a lap out by the West Desert Airpark every two weeks or so. Its usually pretty quiet out there. Once last fall, I saw a beautiful yellow and white S7 out there having some fun. We both landed around the same time but I didnt get a chance to talk to the pilot. His plane still has me mezmorized

That Yellow S7 might be a friend of mine's. He just bought one this last summer for around $52K and kept it there for a while. I thought that was a lot till I looked and it seemed like it would cost you around that to build one. Nice Planes for sure.

62L,

Was this the S-7S you saw? Friend of Marks I've not met, but nice plane!





Regarding build cost, mine is somewhat an unconventional story, so not representative of typical. PM me for more details.

But essentially, you are looking at about $21K for an airframe kit, $24K for motor and FWF package, then add paint, instruments and any custom stuff to that. So, a basic plane could be built for between $48K and 52K. Find a started kit (like I did - wings already built, 18K!) and a used motor (you find them now an then w/ 200-500hrs for 14-15K) and you can save some time/cash. You can also look for a built one, but they are few and far between - people don't really like to part with them. Mark Pringle will also build you and ELSA model - not sure on the cost, but probably approaching the $90K's.

Build is as straightforward as any. I know a guy who has the divers experience of building kit Supercubs, composites, Highlanders and S7's. He says the S7 goes together about as fast/simply as you can get, and a LOT faster/simpler than the Supecub.com kit. Anyone with patience, persistence, and basic mechanical skill can do it. I think patience and persistence are perhaps the most important, not some hard skill.

I love the building experience. I restored an S7 before this one. If you have the time to do it, its fantastic. I only worked on composite planes before this, and I loved that, but fabric and the basic assembly/minimal metal stuff you do with this (drilling, trimming, riveting) is great too. B

Bottom line, if you like to make stuff, and like airplanes (assume that's the case), you will like building. Again, patience, persistence and free time.

If you are honest with yourself and have the time and persistence to put in a few good 3hr nights a week, and a least a full weekend or two each month - things move along. It will still be a 12mo plus project though. More likely 2yr. But its amazing how fast 2 years can zoom by when you are having fun.

Thanks for the comments on the panel. It is not the stock panel, I drew it in CAD and had it CNC cut. I have the file for anyone building an S7. Also a slightly smaller carbon fiber version is now being made by Joel Milloway in ID (full S7 build/service center - and a effing guru on the S7), along with the mating glare shield. Big improvement over stock.



I am hoping there will be no fewer than 4 S-7S at the BCP fly in this year, including that yellow one and Mark's. He's the dealer so I am sure between him, me and others - test rides will not be an issue!

Yeah, just checked - there will probably be 3x S7's and 2x S6's coming from West Desert Airpark to JC in June.

emflys wrote:62L,

Was this the S-7S you saw? Friend of Marks I've not met, but nice plane!





Regarding build cost, mine is somewhat an unconventional story, so not representative of typical. PM me for more details.

But essentially, you are looking at about $21K for an airframe kit, $24K for motor and FWF package, then add paint, instruments and any custom stuff to that. So, a basic plane could be built for between $48K and 52K. Find a started kit (like I did - wings already built, 18K!) and a used motor (you find them now an then w/ 200-500hrs for 14-15K) and you can save some time/cash. You can also look for a built one, but they are few and far between - people don't really like to part with them. Mark Pringle will also build you and ELSA model - not sure on the cost, but probably approaching the $90K's.

Build is as straightforward as any. I know a guy who has the divers experience of building kit Supercubs, composites, Highlanders and S7's. He says the S7 goes together about as fast/simply as you can get, and a LOT faster/simpler than the Supecub.com kit. Anyone with patience, persistence, and basic mechanical skill can do it. I think patience and persistence are perhaps the most important, not some hard skill.

I love the building experience. I restored an S7 before this one. If you have the time to do it, its fantastic. I only worked on composite planes before this, and I loved that, but fabric and the basic assembly/minimal metal stuff you do with this (drilling, trimming, riveting) is great too. B

Bottom line, if you like to make stuff, and like airplanes (assume that's the case), you will like building. Again, patience, persistence and free time.

If you are honest with yourself and have the time and persistence to put in a few good 3hr nights a week, and a least a full weekend or two each month - things move along. It will still be a 12mo plus project though. More likely 2yr. But its amazing how fast 2 years can zoom by when you are having fun.

Thanks for the comments on the panel. It is not the stock panel, I drew it in CAD and had it CNC cut. I have the file for anyone building an S7. Also a slightly smaller carbon fiber version is now being made by Joel Milloway in ID (full S7 build/service center - and a effing guru on the S7), along with the mating glare shield. Big improvement over stock.



I am hoping there will be no fewer than 4 S-7S at the BCP fly in this year, including that yellow one and Mark's. He's the dealer so I am sure between him, me and others - test rides will not be an issue!

Yeah thats the plane I saw..its looks better in those pictures. Something about yellow on a taildragger... Thanks for taking the time to respond about the S7's. I'm just dreaming right now but its cool to see whats possible.

SixTwoLeemer wrote: Something about yellow on a taildragger...

Couldn't agree more!

That is a sweet looking Rans, man.