Ravin 500

The Ravin 500 is a South African amateur-built aircraft, designed and produced by Ravin Aircraft of Pretoria. The aircraft first flew on 15 September 2002 and is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly aircraft.[1][2]

Ravin 500
Role Amateur-built aircraft
National origin South Africa
Manufacturer Ravin Aircraft
First flight 15 September 2002
Status In production (2012)
Number built 17
Developed from Piper PA-24 Comanche

Design and development

The Ravin 500 is based on the design of the aluminum Piper PA-24 Comanche, but rendered in composite materials and scaled down some 6–7%.[3]

The Ravin 500 features a cantilever low-wing, a four-seat enclosed cabin, accessed by doors, retractable tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration. The cabin is 45 in (114 cm) wide.[1][2]

The aircraft's 35 ft (10.7 m) span wing has an area of 157 sq ft (14.6 m2) and mounts flaps as well as winglets. The aircraft's recommended engine is the 260 to 300 hp (194 to 224 kW) Lycoming IO-540 four-stroke powerplant. Construction time from the supplied kit is estimated as 1400 hours.[1]

Operational history

The company reported that by December 2013 that a total of 22 aircraft or kits had been supplied and that 17 of these have been completed and flown.[4]

Specifications (Ravin 500)

Data from Kitplanes and Ravin Aircraft[1][2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: three passengers
  • Length: 24 ft 4 in (7.42 m)
  • Wingspan: 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m)
  • Wing area: 157 sq ft (14.6 m2)
  • Empty weight: 2,200 lb (998 kg)
  • Gross weight: 3,575 lb (1,622 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 160 U.S. gallons (610 L; 130 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming IO-540 six cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 300 hp (220 kW)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed composite

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 242 mph (389 km/h, 210 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 220 mph (350 km/h, 190 kn)
  • Stall speed: 62 mph (100 km/h, 54 kn) flaps down
  • Range: 2,200 mi (3,500 km, 1,900 nmi)
  • Wing loading: 22.8 lb/sq ft (111 kg/m2)

References
  1. Vandermeullen, Richard: 2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 69. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  2. Ravin Aircraft (n.d.). "Aircraft Specifications". Archived from the original on 29 May 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  3. Ravin Aircraft (n.d.). "Reviews". Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  4. Ravin Aircraft (n.d.). "Owners". Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
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