The Rans S-16 Shekari is an American single-engined, two-seat, low-wing, experimental amateur built aerobatic monoplane designed by Randy Schlitter, and produced by Rans Inc of Hays, Kansas, and sold as a kit for amateur construction.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Conceived as a new generation of Rans aircraft focusing on quicker built times and higher performance, the Shekari is stressed for dual aerobatics.^[3]

The Shekari has a 4130 steel tube-and-fabric forward fuselage with composite covering and 6061-T3 aluminum tube rear fuselage and tail. It is available as either a tail wheel landing gear or tricycle landing gear versions. The wings are removable by one person in ten minutes for storage or trailering.^[2][3][5][4]

The S-16 has been flown with the Rotax 912UL of 80 hp (60 kW), but is typically equipped with engines such as the Continental IO-240 of 130 hp (97 kW) and can accept engines up to the Lycoming O-320 with 160 hp (119 kW). Construction time claimed is 600 to 1500 man-hours, depending on builder experience.^[1][2][5][4]

Production of the S-16 was ended as part of Rans' extensive reorganization of its product line on 1 June 2006, after the kit had been available for 8 years. Twenty-two had been completed and flown by the end of 2005.^[1][6]

Data from Kitplanes,^[5] Aerocrafter^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Capacity: One passenger
• Length: 18 ft 8 in (5.69 m)
• Wingspan: 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
• Height: 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
• Wing area: 86.5 sq ft (8.04 m²)
• Empty weight: 850 lb (386 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,650 lb (748 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 32 US gallons (121 litres)
• Powerplant: 1 × Continental IO-240-B piston engine, 130 hp (97 kW)
• Propellers: 3-bladed composite

Performance

• Maximum speed: 220 mph (350 km/h, 190 kn)
• Cruise speed: 160 mph (260 km/h, 140 kn)
• Stall speed: 50 mph (80 km/h, 43 kn) flaps down
• Never exceed speed: 248 mph (399 km/h, 216 kn)
• Range: 980 mi (1,570 km, 850 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,300 m)
• g limits: +9/-9
• Rate of climb: 1,200 ft/min (6.1 m/s)

• Bertrand, Noel; Coulon, Rene (2003). "World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-2004". World Directory of Light Aviation. Lancaster OK: Pagefast Ltd. p. 194. ISSN 1368-485X.
• Bertrand, Noel; Coulon, Rene (2004). "World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2004-2005". World Directory of Light Aviation. England: Pagefast Ltd. ISSN 1368-485X.
• Downey, Julia (December 1998). "1999 Kit Aircraft Directory". Kitplanes. Vol. 15, no. 12. Primedia Publications. p. 66. ISSN 0891-1851.
• Downey, Julia (December 2004). "2005 Kit Aircraft Directory". Kitplanes. Vol. 21, no. 12. Belvoir Publications. p. 77. ISSN 0891-1851.
• Purdy, Don (1998). AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook. BAI Communications. p. 241. ISBN 978-0963640949.
• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1996). Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory. London, England: Brassey's. ISBN 1-85753-198-1.
• Aero News Network (11 May 2006). "RANS: Light Sport Aircraft Are The Future". Retrieved 21 November 2010.

• Official website archive on Archive.org
• Photo of an S-16 Shekari