Rans S-20LS Raven is a two-seat light sport aircraft (LSA) manufactured by RANS Designs. The aircraft was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under the Special Light Sport Aircraft (SLSA) category in March 2016.
The ready-to-fly aircraft was also expected to obtain type certification with minimal changes from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
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Rans S-20LS Raven design and features
Designed by Randy Schlitter, the S-20LS Raven features an airframe constructed using 4130 chrome-moly welded steel tubing, while its fuselage as well as tail and door frames are powder-coated.
The tubular aluminium wings integrate stamped wing ribs, sheet aluminium leading edge and aluminium wing struts. The tail dragger of the aircraft has 26in Alaskan bush wheel with 10in tire option.
The aircraft also features internal corrosion protection, a classic rudder and ball bearing aircraft control pulleys. It comes with dual side hydraulic toe brakes, park brake and stainless steel braided brake lines, and a single panel-mounted throttle.
The landing gear includes hydraulic 6in wheels and brakes, telescoping steerable nose gear, full-swivel steerable tail wheel, and float attachments.
The aircraft has a length of 6.4m, height of 2m, wingspan of 9.2m and wing area of 14.1m².
Avionics of the light sport aircraft
The avionics suite of the S-20LS Raven LSA includes dual control sticks, airspeed indicator, vertical speed indicator, altimeter, engine gauges including RPM, oil temp / oil pressure, volt meter and hour meter, and a pedestal mount compass. It also integrates a Garmin GTR 200 radio with intercom, Garmin Aera 550 GPS, and Garmin GTX 327 transponder.
The aircraft is further equipped with a gascolator, electric fuel pump, passenger seat electric elevator trim, canopy cover, carbon fibre cowling, carbon fibre wing tips, and AVEO Vega TLR landing lights.
The pilot control stick is installed with electric elevator trim and an indicator on the panel.
Cabin details
The aircraft has a spacious 46in cabin that can accommodate two people in side-by-side configuration. The cabin features deluxe upholstered seats with map pockets and three different recline settings for in-flight adjustment. The seats include three-point lap and shoulder belts.
The cabin can be accessed through 50in curved doors with gas lift cylinders, providing easy entry and baggage loading. The Rans S-20LS includes a floor-mounted fire extinguisher and wind-shield defrost / avionics cooling fan. It is facilitated with cabin heat and dash-mounted cabin air vents.
The cabin also features a 21.2ft³ baggage compartment that can take a maximum capacity of 80lb.
Engine and performance
The aircraft is powered by a Rotax 912 ULS engine with a rated power output of 100hp. The engine drives a three-blade Warp Drive ground adjustable w/HP-L hub propeller with a 12in carbon fibre spinner. The fuel system includes a 26gal fuel system and gascolator fuel sump.
The aircraft has a cruise speed of 180km/h and never-exceed speed of 209km/h. It has a maximum range of 937km and endurance of 5.2 hours. The service ceiling of the aircraft is 4,420m (14,500ft), rate of climb is 900fpm, takeoff roll is 91m (300ft), and landing roll is 104m (340ft).
The aircraft has an empty weight of 336kg, gross weight of 599kg, and can carry up to 263kg of useful load. The wing loading capacity of the aircraft is 4kg.
