Rans S-16 Shekari

The Rans S-16 Shekari is an American single-engined, two-seat, low-wing, experimental amateur built aerobatic monoplane designed by Randy Schlitter, and produced by Rans Inc of Hays, Kansas, and sold as a kit for amateur construction.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

S-16 Shekari
Role	Amateur-built aerobatic monoplane
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Rans Inc
Designer	Randy Schlitter
First flight	1994
Introduction	1998
Status	Production completed June 2006
Number built	22 (as of December 2004)

Design and development

Conceived as a new generation of Rans aircraft focusing on quicker built times and higher performance, the Shekari is stressed for dual aerobatics.^[3]

The Shekari has a 4130 steel tube-and-fabric forward fuselage with composite covering and 6061-T3 aluminum tube rear fuselage and tail. It is available as either a tail wheel landing gear or tricycle landing gear versions. The wings are removable by one person in ten minutes for storage or trailering.^[2][3][5][4]

The S-16 has been flown with the Rotax 912UL of 80 hp (60 kW), but is typically equipped with engines such as the Continental IO-240 of 130 hp (97 kW) and can accept engines up to the Lycoming O-320 with 160 hp (119 kW). Construction time claimed is 600 to 1500 man-hours, depending on builder experience.^[1][2][5][4]

Production of the S-16 was ended as part of Rans' extensive reorganization of its product line on 1 June 2006, after the kit had been available for 8 years. Twenty-two had been completed and flown by the end of 2005.^[1][6]

Specifications

Data from Kitplanes,^[5] Aerocrafter^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Capacity: One passenger
• Length: 18 ft 8 in (5.69 m)
• Wingspan: 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
• Height: 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
• Wing area: 86.5 sq ft (8.04 m²)
• Empty weight: 850 lb (386 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,650 lb (748 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 32 US gallons (121 litres)
• Powerplant: 1 × Continental IO-240-B piston engine, 130 hp (97 kW)
• Propellers: 3-bladed composite

Performance

• Maximum speed: 220 mph (350 km/h, 190 kn)
• Cruise speed: 160 mph (260 km/h, 140 kn)
• Stall speed: 50 mph (80 km/h, 43 kn) flaps down
• Never exceed speed: 248 mph (399 km/h, 216 kn)
• Range: 980 mi (1,570 km, 850 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,300 m)
• g limits: +9/-9
• Rate of climb: 1,200 ft/min (6.1 m/s)