Selection of the kit

General

Main usage of the plane shall be to undertake trips around Switzerland and Europe together with a passenger (my wife in my case). For that reason, a decent range and the possibility to carry two adults with full fuel and luggage are necessary (weight and space). In addition it shall be possible to park the place at destination airports outside for a few days.

The plane shall be stationed in Lommis, Switzerland (LSZT). Operation from a grass runway is therefore a must. The cost of the plane shall be no higher than 80´000 CHF (50´000 €), equipped with radio and Mode-S transponder.

The following table list the requirements for the above described purpose. I have tried to distinguish between shall (absolute minimum), should (basis for comparison) and wish (only if possible without exceeding the budget).

		Shall	Should	Wish
Runway		grass
Seats		2	2	2
Luggage	kg	30	40	50
Range	nm	450	550	650
Payload 1)	kg	240	250	260
Cruise Speed	kts	100	110	120
Engine 2)			Rotax 912S
Horsepower	hp		100
Propeller
Wing		removable in 2 h		removable in 5 min

1) 2 adults (80 kg each) + 25 kg luggage + fuel for 4 h (55 kg) = 240kg

2) Jabiru optionally possible as well

On the basis of these requirements a metal plane has proven to be the optimal choice. Composites or a mixture of metal and composites would be possible too, this would however result in a price exceeding the available budget. Wood and fabric have been excluded due to the requirements to leave the plane outside for some time.

Additional requirements that would have to be fulfilled by a kit are:

It shall use pulled rivets as far as possible rather than driven rivets
The parts shall be pre-drilled to a large extend
Optionally a quickbuild kit shall be available
It shall be from an experienced manufacturer with a good reputation

The following kits have been found on the market that fulfill the above listed requirements to a large extend:

Aerostyle Breezer

The Breezer is a relatively new design, which started as an Ultralight (472,5 kg) in Germany. The Breezer is however also available as an Experimental kit with higher takeoff weight (580 kg). The manufacturer is active on the market since quite a few years and has a good reputation. The plane is of classical all-metal design on the basis of pulled rivets.

The kit is available both as standard or as quickbuild kit in several levels of pre-fabrication (20/50/80%). As it is a relatively new design, it can be considered modern from both aerodynamic and design point of view.

Advantages:

Already certified in Switzerland
Local competence available, one is flying in Lommis

Design new
Support judged as excellent by other builders
Manufactured based in Europe (Shipping Cost, Support etc.)

Disadvantages:

Relatively small manufacturer
Kit relatively expensive compared to other, similar kits
Level of prefabrication of 50% kit less high than with other kits
Design started as UL

I was able to make a short test flight with the plane based in Lommis. It is very roomy (I am 1.87 m tall) with excellent visibility and a pleasant arrangement of stick, power lever etc. Only the elevator and aileron are not very well balanced, with the elevator very sensitive and the ailerons relatively heavy.

The plane I was able to fly is extremely well built.

Czech Aircraft Works SportCruiser

The SportCruiser is a new design from Czech Aircraft Works for the LSA Class in the USA. CZAW manufactured the Zenith line of kitplanes under licence (approximately 700) for many years and continuously improved them. Probably due to the success with their three new designs SportCruiser, Parrot (high wing) and Mermaid (amphibious flying boat) the licence manufacturing agreement has been terminated by the end of 2006.

The SportCruiser is of classical all metal design, based on pulled rivets. It is only available as quickbuild kit, as the fuselage has to be built in a jig (due to the very aerodynamic, rounded shape. As it is an all new design, it can be considered modern from both aerodynamic and design point of view.

Advantages:

Many aircraft of the manufacturer are flying (close to one thousand)
Other models of the manufacturer are already approved in Switzerland
Established manufacturer, in the business since many years
The support is judged very good by other builders
The design is new
Manufactured in Europe (shipping cost, support etc.)

Disadvantages:

Model in Switzerland not yet approved (but should be until the kit is delivered)
Is only available as quick built kit (cost)

Rans S-19

The S-19 from Rans is a new design for the LSA Class in the USA. Rans is active in the kitplane market since many years and has good reputation. Rans has sold more than 3000 kits. All previous models have been of „tube and fabric“ construction. With the S-19, Rans delivers it's first all metal aircraft. It is of classical design and based on pulled rivets.

The kit is not yet available and will be delivered in the beginning only as standard kit (no quickbuild option). Until flight testing is finished, Rans only delivers empennage kits. A detailed view at the kit reveals a very high standard in design. Many details of the design are well thought off and optimised for safety (fuel tanks, roll over cage etc.). All parts will be pre-drilled, the main wing spar pre-assembled. As it is an all new design, it is modern from an aerodynamic point of view.

Advantages:

Many aircraft of the manufacturer are flying (many thousand)
Other models of the manufacturer are already approved in Switzerland
Established manufacturer, in the business since decades
The support is judged very good by other builders
The design is new

Disadvantages:

Model not flying yet, kit not yet available
No quick built kit available at the beginning (building time)
Model in Switzerland not yet approved
Kit shipped from the USA (shipping cost, support etc.)

Vans RV-9

The RV-9 from Vans represents the smallest model of the RV family, with the exception of the not yet available RV-12. Vans is active in the kitplane market since many years and has good reputation. Vans has sold thousands of kits, with more than 5000 flying.

The RV-9 is of classical all metal design, but unfortunately based on driven rivets. The kit is available both as standard and quick built kit. From a technical point of view the Vans kits are of a good quality, with all predrilled holes. As it is an all new design, it is modern from an aerodynamic point of view.

Advantages:

Many aircraft of the manufacturer are flying (many thousand)
Models already built and approve in Switzerland
Established manufacturer, in the business since decades
The support is judged good by other builders
The design is new

Disadvantages:

Driven rivets
Designed for Lycoming Engines, not Rotax
Kit shipped from the USA (shipping cost, support etc.)

Vans RV-12A

The RV-12 from Vans will be the smallest model of the RV family. Vans is active in the kitplane market since many years and has good reputation. Vans has sold thousands of kits, with more than 5000 flying. The RV-12 is a new design especially for the LSA class in the US.

The RV-12 is of classical all metal design, based on pulled rivets. The kit will probably be available by the end of 2007, initially as standard and probably soon as quick built kit. From a technical point of view the Vans kits are of a good quality, with all predrilled holes. As it is an all new design, it is modern from an aerodynamic point of view.

One of the major advantages of the RV-12 is the removable wings. They are attached in a similar way as with modern gliders, with automatically connecting control rods. It will therefore be possible to keep the plane on a trailer.

Advantages:

Many aircraft of the manufacturer are flying (many thousand)
Established manufacturer, in the business since decades
The support is judged good by other builders
The design is new

Disadvantages:

Only first prototype flying, kit not yet available
No quick built kit available at the beginning (building time)
Model in Switzerland not yet approved
Kit shipped from the USA (shipping cost, support etc.)
Not the nicest plane on the planet

Zenith CH-601 XL

The Zenith CH-601 XL is the latest update of the classical CH-601 from Chris Heintz, which is available since more than 20 years.

The CH-601 XL is of classical all metal design, based on pulled rivets. Chris Heintz, the designer, has more or less established this building method many years ago. The kit has been refined over the years, today it is delivered with mostly predrilled parts as the kits from Vans.

From a technical point of view the CH-601 XL is somehow classical, with more modern designs available. It is also not the most modern one from an aerodynamic point of view. It is however well proven and enjoys a good reputation.

Advantages:

Many aircraft of the manufacturer are flying (many thousand)
Established manufacturer, in the business since decades
The support is judged good by other builders

Disadvantages:

Cooperation with the European partner and kit manufacturer Czech Aircraft Works has been terminated by the end of 2006, new kit are currently only available from the US (shipping cost, support etc.)
Design rather classical from both technical and aerodynamic point

Comparison Performance

The comparison of the published performances of the above described types gives the following result:

Manufacturer		Aerostyle	Czech Aircraft Works	Vans	Vans	Rans	Zenith
Model		Breezer	SportCruiser	RV-9A	RV-12A	S-19	CH-601XL

Engine		Rotax 912S	Rotax 912S	Cont O-235	Rotax 912S	Rotax 912S	Rotax 912S
Power	hp	100	100	118	100	100	100

MTOW	kg	580	600	795	600	600	595
Empty	kg	340	307	475	340	340	312
Payload	kg	240	293	320	260	260	283
Luggage	kg		58	35	23	32

Span	m	8.71	8.67	8.54	8.12	8.53	8.23
Length	m	6.40	6.49	6.22	6.08	6.15	6.10
Wing area	m2	11.85	13.20		11.15		12.28
Wing load	kg/m2	49	45		54		48
Power loading	kg/hp	5.80	6.00	6.74	6.00	6.00	5.95

Cruise speed	kts	103	108	140	110	104	116
VNE	kts	132	131			130	157
Stall speed	kts		30	42	41	39	38

Range	nm	380	650	745	460	530	566

Load factor	g		+4 / -2	+4..4 / -2.2		+4.4 / -2
Load ultimate	g		+6 / -4				+6 / -6

Fuel	l	70	114	140	78	90	92

Cabin width	cm	116	117	109	109	110	112

Comparison Prices

The comparison of the published prices of the above described types gives the following result:

		Aerostyle	Czech Aircraft Works	Vans	Vans	Rans	Zenith
		Breezer	SportCruiser	RV-9A	RV-12A	S-19	CH-601XL
		Quickbuild	Quickbuild	Quickbuild	Quickbuild	Quickbuild	Quickbuild
Airframe incl. finishing kit	$	48150	25´000	26´100	23´500	20´000	23´950
Engine incl. firewall forward	$	28´000	17´900	24´900	17´900	17´900	17´900
Total	$	101´300	65´500	74´300	64´650	72´470	78´995

Comparison Airplanes

The final comparison of the above described types, based on my personal criteria, gives the following result:

	Aerostyle	Czech Aircraft Works	Vans	Vans	Rans	Zenith
	Breezer	SportCruiser	RV-9A	RV-12A	S-19	CH-601XL
	Quickbuild	Quickbuild	Quickbuild	Quickbuild		Quickbuild

Cost	--	+	0	+	0	+
Availability	+	+	+	-	-	+
Technology	+	+	--	+	++	0
Safety	0	0	0	+	+	0
Performance	-	+	++	0	0	0
Look	0	+	+	0	0	-
Wing removal	0	0	0	++	0	0
Total	-	+	0	0	0	0