The Rans S-11 Pursuit is an American single-engined,

tractor configuration In aviation, the term tractor configuration refers to an aircraft constructed in the standard configuration with its engine mounted with the propeller in front of it so that the aircraft is "pulled" through the air. Oppositely, the pusher co ...

, single-seat, low-wing aircraft, based on the

lifting body A lifting body is a fixed-wing aircraft or spacecraft configuration in which the body itself produces lift. In contrast to a flying wing, which is a wing with minimal or no conventional fuselage, a lifting body can be thought of as a fuselage ...

principle, designed and built by Randy Schlitter. The Pursuit was listed as ''under development'' in 1998, but only prototypes were ever completed and the aircraft is not part of the present Rans aircraft line.Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', page 356. BAI Communications, July 1998.

Design and development

The S-11 was conceived as a unique single seat sport aircraft, based on the lifting body concept pioneered by

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil List of government space agencies, space program ...

in the 1960s. The aircraft design derives 80% of its lift from the aircraft

fuselage The fuselage (; from the French ''fuselé'' "spindle-shaped") is an aircraft's main body section. It holds crew, passengers, or cargo. In single-engine aircraft, it will usually contain an engine as well, although in some amphibious aircraf ...

and associated strakes and only 20% from its straight wings. The Pursuit is a straked, low wing single or dual seat aircraft with tricycle landing gear and dual rudders. It is made from a welded steel fuselage with aluminum ribs and a composite shell. The prototype's engine was a

Rotax 912UL The Rotax 912 is a horizontally-opposed four-cylinder, naturally aspirated, four-stroke aircraft engine with a reduction gearbox. It features liquid-cooled cylinder heads and air-cooled cylinders. Originally equipped with carburetors, l ...

of , with the

Rotax 582 The Rotax 582 is a two-stroke, two-cylinder, rotary intake valve, oil-in-fuel or oil injection pump, liquid-cooled, gear reduction-drive aircraft engine manufactured by BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG. It is for use in non-certified aircraft operating ...

of intended to be offered as an option.

Operational history

A prototype, N2164K, was registered with the

Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic ...

in July 1990 and destroyed on 19 January 1991. Another prototype, N4299Y, was registered with the FAA in June 1991 and had its registration cancelled in March 2001. Another prototype, N7012W, was granted an FAA registration on 5 May 1993.

Accidents and incidents

A prototype S-11, N2164K, was involved in an accident on 19 January 1991. The aircraft suffered an engine failure caused by a seized piston at altitude. The landing was hard and resulted in a fire. The pilot received serious injuries. The National Transportation Safety Board assessed cause factors as engine failure followed by a high descent rate on landing. The aircraft is listed as destroyed.

Variants

;S-11 :Prototype first flown in January 1991. ;S-11A :Prototype with improvements, first flown in January 1992. ;S-11B :Prototype with further improvements, first flown in January 1993. ;S-15 Pursuit II :Proposed two-seat variant with retractable landing gear, not built.

Specifications (S-11)

References

External links

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Photo of S-11 Pursuit N4299Y
{{Rans aircraft 1990s United States civil utility aircraft Homebuilt aircraft S-011 Pursuit Lifting bodies Low-wing aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1991 Single-engined tractor aircraft