BeechTalk - BT - Rans S-7s Courier; Anyone have experience or opinions?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 16 Feb 2023, 16:05

Inspection done and passed. Airworthiness certificate in hand. :thumbup:

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F6147666-62B7-42FF-88CB-85283C36C378.jpeg

Username Protected · **Posted:** 16 Feb 2023, 16:14

Congratulations!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 16 Feb 2023, 16:17

Awesome!! Congratulations

Username Protected · **Posted:** 16 Feb 2023, 16:22

that's great news Jack

how long did the inspection take and were there any specific areas of focused or commented on ?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 16 Feb 2023, 17:38

Congratulations Jack!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 16 Feb 2023, 23:49

Username Protected wrote:

that's great news Jack

how long did the inspection take and were there any specific areas of focused or commented on ?

It took about 2 1-2 hours. It was really cold, about 25F outside. I had a propane torpedo heater going, but it’s hard to actually raise the temp in an unisulated T-Hangar, so it was cold. The inspector was great, knowledgeable and generally helpful. And, he has a high threshold of pain for cold weahter.

He had me add a few wire ties, but that was about it for problems found. The paperwork all went smoothly, but that was as expected as he’d reviewed everything be for he got there. There was no particular area he focused on, but he did give it a through inspection.

All in all it was a positive experience. The paperwork hang up was frustrating, but that’s all in the past now. Hopefully the first flight will be soon, but we need better weather than we had today.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 17 Feb 2023, 17:57

Tentative plans for the first flight on Sunday!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 17 Feb 2023, 18:39

Well done! huge accomplishment with a reward at the end of an awesome airplane. :clap:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Feb 2023, 14:25

First flight in the books. :thumbup:

Only a couple of squawks. Airspeed reads low by a lot and no Mode C. ADSB does work however. Flies straight hands off. Temps all good. Panel is all perfect (except Mode C) No leaks or any other problems. Overall a big success in my book.

I made the second landing so that was good. Still need more tail wheel practice.

I’ll edit the video and post that soon. Thanks to all of you who’ve helped and been supportive over the course of this 5 year project.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Feb 2023, 14:35

Username Protected wrote:

First flight in the books. :thumbup:

Only a couple of squawks. Airspeed reads low by a lot and no Mode C. ADSB does work however. Flies straight hands off. Temps all good. Panel is all perfect (except Mode C) No leaks or any other problems. Overall a big success in my book.

I made the second landing so that was good. Still need more tail wheel practice.

I’ll edit the video and post that soon. Thanks to all of you who’ve helped and been supportive over the course of this 5 year project.

Jack
Congratulations. That's quite an accomplishment. Good for you!!!
Dave

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Feb 2023, 17:27

Username Protected wrote:

First flight in the books. :thumbup:

Only a couple of squawks. Airspeed reads low by a lot and no Mode C. ADSB does work however. Flies straight hands off. Temps all good. Panel is all perfect (except Mode C) No leaks or any other problems. Overall a big success in my book.

I made the second landing so that was good. Still need more tail wheel practice.

I’ll edit the video and post that soon. Thanks to all of you who’ve helped and been supportive over the course of this 5 year project.

Congrats!

My airspeed was also low on my first flight - the hose off the pitot tube got a kink during assembly when the nose cone went back on. I shortened the hose and all was fine.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Feb 2023, 19:35

Congratulations! Few get to experience flying an airplane that they personally built. You also have the added pressure of flying a new airplane with a tailwheel. You will find that tailwheel experience in a light airplane will hone your skills exponentially.

Enjoy the ride; relish the experience! We aren’t far behind you.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Feb 2023, 21:21

Username Protected wrote:

First flight in the books. :thumbup:

That's gotta make you feel pretty darn good. Congrats.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 20 Feb 2023, 13:55

I put together a short video of the first flight, under a minute.

My test pilot made the first flight solo, but once he landed and announced the plane flew great, I jumped in the front seat and made the second flight. He had the already noted problems with airspeed and Mode C, but it flies like a dream. Those little squawks appear to be easy to fix.

"Pictures or it didn't happen". Here you go! It happened!

[youtube]https://youtu.be/d_Lhc5cUIoo[/youtube]

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 Feb 2023, 08:09

Great job, Jack! Congratulations!!