rv8ch said:...I like the new non-plastic wingtips, and the handle to help move the wings into the folded position. The folding wings is a really super feature. I hope it stays on the production model.
The RANs price includes seats, upholstery, FWF kit, engine gauges, prop, etc. A bit more than a typical Vans kit includes. I doubt a -12 would be a lot less, similarily equiped.RickS said:Thanks for those links, wow that Rans LSA plane is very nice indeed...the aluminum design and construction looks very advanced and well thought out, beautifully made parts. The overall similarities are amazing.
Although when I added up the kit prices.. I had to gulp... over $25K for the Rans kits...
Hopefully the RV-12 will come in about $13,000 complete.
Does that sound in the ballpark?
Rick
rv8ch said:I like the new non-plastic wingtips, and the handle to help move the wings into the folded position. The folding wings is a really super feature. I hope it stays on the production model.
I've flown LSA with both toe brakes (Evektor) and hand brakes (IndUS Thorpedo). The hand brake of the Thorpedo would better if it weren't such a reach. However, I don't like the "bike brake lever on the stick" style that the RV-12 seems to have - you don't often need the brake, so putting it on the stick doesn't make that much sense to me. Of course, YMMVrv6ejguy said:...only oh, oh I see from the pix is the dreaded handbrake a la European designs. I could be wrong on this. Toe brakes please.
Any chance of wing lockers as the 601XL has? I am curious about CG issues, with such a light craft as these LS are. Seems like a very wise option to place the weight of your bags closer to the center line vs. out back.Mike Armstrong said:I see a few questions that would be great to have answered by someone who is there (Mike )
1) Removable or folding wings?
2) Tip up canopy, will a slider be an option?
3) Hand brake or toe?
Any more?
I doubt it. Sorry if I sounded like I knew something. I would guess the wings are removable, not folding. Several of the European high-wing LSAs that I have seen are folding wings, so I just went with that term.Mike Armstrong said:Is the handle on the wingtip a dead give away that it's folding and not removable?
fl-mike said:The RANs price includes seats, upholstery, FWF kit, engine gauges, prop, etc. A bit more than a typical Vans kit includes. I doubt a -12 would be a lot less, similarily equiped.
Both look like they would go together pretty quickly. Very cool.
I did notice that it looks like the RANs is using 6061-T6 while Vans appears to be 2024-T3 Alclad (which they certainly have a lot of laying around). Chris Heintz has always been a 6061 proponent.
Both remind me of the Pazmany PL2. Can't wait to see them.
txaviator said:I am amazed that nobody has asked "when is a tailwheel version going to be available"?
Sorry, but I figured sooner or later the T/W versus nosedragger debate would surely enter this conversation? And the bird isn't even in production yet
Thanks for all the real-time pictures, guys. Good stuff!
RudiGreyling said:I wonder what Vans is pondering about in this picture Mike took? You can see the thinking gears are working in his head.
RudiGreyling said:I wonder what Vans is pondering about in this picture Mike took?
RV6junkie said:If I were to build another RV, it would be a tri-gear. I like the look of my -6, and the swagger I get to use after a perfect wheel landing, but in the end a tri-gear is just more practable. It will also be easier to teach my kids how to fly a tri-gear.
sptom said:I was looking at the pictures of the 12 and noticed that there are what look like small rectangular inspection panels under the leading edge. Could that be a provision for a future taildragger version? I personally hope so. I think this airplane would be a lot more fun as a taildragger!
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mdoyle_45068/detail?.dir=/2d64re2&.dnm=efcere2.jpg&.src=ph
Tom
RV6junkie said:I don't know about the tail dragger option. The main gear are tied to the structural section that carries the load for the wings. I would think that the main gear would need to be moved to the engine mount, like the RV-6/7/8, for a tail dragger. Even at that I still doubt we'll see a tail dragger.
ROFL... whew... I thought it was just me. I looked at that, and instantly thought - "How cool is that?!". Later I was a bit chagrined when I realized I'd fallen for an optical illusion.Mike S said:By the way, how many of you saw the "Gull Wing" look in the reflection in some of the photos---------------THAT would sure look sweet if it were real.
Mike
I dont think this 'first' version of Vans RV-12 (ok, I'm really hoping on this one) could be anything other than a tri-gear/ side by side. Nearly all of this first batch of LSA's is being aimed at 'new' Sport Pilots and the flight training schools their going to earn their wings at. If not for practicality, certainly for initial sales numbers. I would imagine most (not all) pilots earned their wings in a side by side tri-gear aircraft because that basic configuration lends itself to an easier learning environment.
RickS said:Thanks for those links, wow that Rans LSA plane is very nice indeed...the aluminum design and construction looks very advanced and well thought out, beautifully made parts. The overall similarities are amazing.
Although when I added up the kit prices.. I had to gulp... over $25K for the Rans kits...
Hopefully the RV-12 will come in about $13,000 complete.
Does that sound in the ballpark?
Rick
Sounds like you won't be building an RV-12 to save money over any other RV. Where you will (can?) save $$$ is on the panel. I'm thinking one Dynon D180, a radio, transponder, and intercom and you are good to go.Van's RV-12 Flier said:WHAT WILL IT COST?
The Light Sport Category was proposed, in part, to allow manufacturers to produce light airplanes at a lower cost. This has proved difficult to accomplish. Engines, wheels, brakes, sheet metal, instruments and other components cost just as much for a Light Sport airplane as they do for any other, so we expect prices to be similar to other RV kits.
Yep. I figure the near perfect LSA panel is a D180, GPS 296/396, Icom A200 or Garmin SL40, intercom and XPDR of choice. The Rotax doesn't need much in the way of engine monitoring, so the D180 should work great (tach, oil temp, oil press, 1xCHT, 2xEGT, fuel level and voltage; optional fuel flow, amps, etc.).N941WR said:Where you will (can?) save $$$ is on the panel. I'm thinking one Dynon D180, a radio, transponder, and intercom and you are good to go.
Are you sure it is the same plane? Some of the specs differ, such as wing-span. I believe that Lightsportflying is just selling the RAN's kit... Not sure if it is the same plane as the Festival. If you notice - the tail config is a bit different, and so is the shape of the canopy.dash said:The Rans S-19 is a kit built version of the S-LSA Aerostar Festival. Take a look: http://www.lightsportflying.com/ Van aircraft probably have the most trusted name in kitbuilt aircraft. There low wing, all metal aircraft have proven to be a great aircraft design. I've got to say though, that S-19 looks pretty nice. We'll see what the RV-12 looks like when finished. Hard to get a great idea as is.
smitty said:Guys, talking about taildragger configuration, the first thing I thought of when I saw those rear quarter windows was , it's a Swift clone shrunk down.