Just ordered my empennage kit today from Van's. It has been an interesting experience exploring the LSA market and deciding to build versus buy. Once getting past that, deciding between the RANS S-19 and RV-12 was also an interesting exploration.
I went to Sebring this year and closely checked out various options. I then went to visit Mitch in MD and flew in his RV-12. It was a great flight and a really nice plane. I went to Hays KS and toured the RANS plant and flew the S-19. Again a very nice plane. I ordered the manual set for the S-19 and the homebuilt helper videos for the RV-12 to try and get a feel for build complexity for me as a first time builder.
In the end my decision came down to a few factors. First was ease of build and the documentation with the kit. One very important factor that also figured in was empty gross weight. The S-19 just was going to be too heavy to provide a usable cross country load for myself and my wife. I also have been lurking in the forums here for a couple months and really like the way that the builders here are all over helping each other. I am looking very forward to getting my kit and getting the build under way.
Carl
I went to Sebring this year and closely checked out various options. I then went to visit Mitch in MD and flew in his RV-12. It was a great flight and a really nice plane. I went to Hays KS and toured the RANS plant and flew the S-19. Again a very nice plane. I ordered the manual set for the S-19 and the homebuilt helper videos for the RV-12 to try and get a feel for build complexity for me as a first time builder.
In the end my decision came down to a few factors. First was ease of build and the documentation with the kit. One very important factor that also figured in was empty gross weight. The S-19 just was going to be too heavy to provide a usable cross country load for myself and my wife. I also have been lurking in the forums here for a couple months and really like the way that the builders here are all over helping each other. I am looking very forward to getting my kit and getting the build under way.
Carl