Photograph:
Rans S-14 Airale 19-3939 (c/n (c/n 102126)) at Watts Bridge, QLD in August 2010 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-seat light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 48 kw (65 hp) Rotax 582 UL-2V two-cylinder, two-stroke, liquid-cooled electronic dual ignition engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.07 m (26 ft 5 in)
- Length: 5.73 m (18 ft 8 in)
- Height: 2.13 m (7 ft)
- Wing area: 9.29 m² (100 sq ft)
- Max speed: 193 km/h (120 mph)
- Cruising speed: 145 km/h (90 mph)
- Stalling speed: 61 km/h (38 mph)
- Rate of climb: 305 m/min (1,000 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 4,572 m (15,000 ft)
- Take-off run: 69 m, (225 ft)
- Landing run: 40 m (130 ft)
- Range: 322 km (200 miles)
- Empty weight: 177 kg (390 lb)
- Loaded weight: 352 kg (775 lb)
History:
The S-12 Airale was, like all the aircraft in the Rans light aircraft series, designed by Randall Schlitter and introduced to the experimental home-built aircraft market in March 1980, this being a two-seat high-wing monoplane with side-by-side seating and a tricycle undercarriage. A single-seat variant was also designed and entered production 12 months later, becoming known as the S-14 Airale.
Designed to meet US FAR 103 regulations for ultralight vehicles, the aircraft was built of welded 4130 steel tube around the cockpit, with a bolted 6061-T6 aluminium tube rear fuselage. The fuselage, wing and tail surfaces are covered in Dacron. The wings are constructed from aluminium tube and ribs, and are fitted with flaps. The wings are removable for storage or transport. Power plants fitted usually come from the Rotax range, and include the 503 providing 37 kw (50 hp) and the 582 providing 48 kw (64 hp). A few examples of the S-14 have been registered in Australia under RAA regulations, including: 10-1514 (c/n 295080) with a Rotax 503 engine registered on 4 April 1996; S-14 19-3063 (c/n 89-2038) with a Rotax 582 engine registered on 11 November 1998; and S-14 19-3939 (c/n 102126) fitted with a Rotax 912UL engine registered on 4 July 2003.