Rans S-7

S-7 Courier
Role	Kit aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Rans Inc
Designer	Randy Schlitter
First flight	November 1985
Status	In production (2017)
Number built	600 (2011)
Unit cost	US$25,500 (base price 2010) S model, plus engine and instruments
Developed from	Rans S-5 Coyote Rans S-4 Coyote

The Rans S-7 Courier is an American single-engined, tractor configuration, two-seats in tandem, high-wing monoplane designed by Randy Schlitter and manufactured by Rans Inc. The Courier is available in kit form for amateur construction or as a completed light-sport aircraft.

The S-7 was originally conceived of as a trainer for the single seat S-4 Coyote. First flown in November 1985 the Courier was named for an aircraft that Schlitter admired, the Helio Courier.

The S-7 features a welded 4130 steel tube cockpit, with a bolted aluminum tube rear fuselage, wing and tail surfaces all covered in dope and fabric. The reported construction times for the Courier are 500-700 man-hours.

The Courier is available only with conventional landing gear but can be equipped with floats and skis. The original basic engine was the Rotax 503 of 50 hp (37 kW), with the Rotax 582 of 64 hp (48 kW) being available as an option. Today the standard engine is the 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS. At least one S7 has been fitted with a Jabiru 2200 flat-four, four-stroke direct-drive engine.

325 examples of the Courier had been completed by December 2007. In November 2010 74 were on the registers of European countries west of Russia.

Reviewer Marino Boric said in a 2015 review, that, "this refined little fun flyer...continues to prove itself deservedly popular."

Data from Kitplanes

General characteristics