ADVANCED ULTRALIGHT
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HAVE YOU EVER SEEN VINTAGE CARS, KEPT IN THE PROVERBIAL BARN BY THIS LITTLE OLE LADY? THIS IS AS CLOSE TO WHAT YOU'LL SEE HERE IN THIS SAKOTA RANS S10.
This Advanced Ultralight is capable of +9 -6 G rating; it was put through a few initial manoeuvers to prove its construction integrity.
For full specifications, go to the Rans Aircraft site:
The aircraft is very stable in flight and its acrobatic abilities produce crisp and responsive controls; the elevator trim tab makes for practical "hand off" flying!
For periods of prolonged storage, the tanks, carbs and fuel lines are drained and dried. A few drops of 4 cycle oil is dropped on each piston head through the plug port holes and the prop is spun a few times to insure even oil distribution on the cylinders/walls.
The Sakota is constantly kept in flight readiness.
I have always stored it in a heat controlled and insulated hangar.
The airframe and engine have NEAR ZERO HOURS flown, totalling 26 hours since completion.
It's inherent construction with "all around" plexiglass keeps you constantly aware of the entire traffic; being a mid wing type, the ground and the sky views are unobstructed.
(a high or low wing hides half of this view).
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As seen on the pix, its high back provides for relatively large storage behind the front seats. The flexible storage bin compartment measures 24"x18"x24 (6 cu. ft). Wheel pants fairing are also visible in the pix.
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Flying the Sakota is a lot of fun and remarkably comfortable; at first I found that if the backrest was pulled forward by 5", the forward field visibility, while taxiing, was considerably improved. This led me to incorporate "removable" spacers, that are rotated in and out of the way, as required. The pictures are worth a thousand words.On the RH pix, i'm showing one spacer rotated in place and the other, partially rotated "out of the way".
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Removing the top half cowling for engine access, used to be a monumental task; it is now fitted with Southco's 1/4 turn TWIST OFF SPRING LOADED VIBRATION PROOF SCREWS. The pre-flight check is thus considerably simplified.
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The Sakota fabric has been finished using Endura paint, assuring a durable finish.
The airframe covering and smoked Lexan panels have seen the sun for less than 100 hours. As can be seen on the pix, no "spider" lines have developped in the Lexan or on any part of the covering.
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The Rotax 582 is the oil injected, water cooled type; the engine has only 30 hrs TT. and is equipped with a C-type geabox, with a 2.58:1 ratio.Rotax's web site allows you to keep current with the latest service notes/releases, as well as getting access to their previous service bulletins..
Naturally, I also have an electric start.
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The propeller is an Ivoprop, 3-blade, ground adjustable. I have it presently adjusted for max climb performance, for short field take off. It can be optimized for cruise, without templates on the ground, using standard crescent wrench.
The fuel system has been totally revamped in summer 1999, using clear blue urethane fuel lines and clear pink fuel pump pulse lines. This material has "lifetime" resistance to hardening, cracking or becoming brittle. I have also substituted the "regular" wire twist clamps, with quick connect/disconnect snapper type clamps. This fuel system overhaul included the complete fuel delivery lines throughout the engine compartment, behind the instrument panel, to/from the wing mounted fuel tanks and fuel drain system.
The fuel tanks are located in the wings and feed into the header tank inside the cockpit. Total fuel capacity is 15 US gallons.
The header tank was modified, allowing for easy removal, replacement and cleaning of the filter inside the tank.
New fuel filters were fitted in the header tank, as well as in-line to the carburetors. First flight startups are assisted by the dash mounted hand primer.
The gas "caps" have been replaced in 1998 with neoprene "non-hardening" types.
Dual carburetors, have been refitted with new coupling seals.
Stock Ducati dual ignition and complete shielded electrical system.
I have a full complement of instruments and radio equipment. The gages and radios are seen in the pix and listed below.
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Instruments
Hour meter Dual EGT Coolant Temperature VSI indicator Turn and Bank Altimeter ASI Tachometer Magnetic Compass
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Radio communication system STS Transceiver c/w 108-135MHZ, including VOR frequencies. PTT switch integrally mounted on top of joystick (actuated by thumb) PA with 20W Output (runs off A/P battery) Flightcom Headset c/w boom mike External Antenna
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The braking system has remained in top condition, due to the extremely low usage, but is regularly put through its paces.
The Sakota has not been modified from its original Rans design. But I have incorporated the recommended safety related "enhancements" (from Rans).
I have assembled a comprehensive set of manuals and documents for the aircraft, its various components and accessories, covering the construction, operation, maintenance and service areas.
When I want to take the craft to another location, the Sakota design lends itself to quick dissassembly/assembly. This has been further facilitated by building a custom trailer. I designed this flat deck trailer to allow one man to assemble/dissassemble the aircraaft, secure and move it to any location.
The time taken from landing the aircraft to driving it away, is less than one hour. I am showing below some details of its construction and of the aircraft parts' mounting positions. Hitch ball size is 1 7/8" inches diameter.
This allows for storage in off-airport facilities and ensures complete control of storage conditions and related costs. Makes "local" storage convenient to perform the regular maintenance, minor and major work on "my own time schedule".
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I have accumulated a large inventory of maintenance, assembly tools and spare parts including Cleco pliers, wire twist securing pliers, fasteners.
References: (click on the links)
Thanks for bearing with the construction phase.
(updated 211111)
