S-6 Coyote II

The RANS S-6 Coyote II is the most successful design from RANS Designs of Hays, Kansas and one of the most-built ultralight kits ever. It evolved from the single-seat S-4 Coyote (designed 1982, first flight March 1983) via the S-5; the S-6 line first flew in 1988 and series production of the Coyote II began in 1989. More than 1,800 examples were flying by January 2008 and around 2,100 by 2011.

Construction follows the classic RANS recipe: a welded 4130 steel-tube cockpit cage, a riveted aluminium-tube rear fuselage and fabric-covered wings and tail. The variants matter to buyers: the original S-6 with the Rotax 503, the S-6ES „extended span" from April 1990, the S-6S or Super Six from 1993 with traditional dope-and-fabric covering, and the factory-built S-6LS (SLSA) from December 2008. On top of that come two or three wing options: the 10.52 m standard wing with 155 sq ft of area, the smaller tapered „116" sport wing at 8.99 m span and 116 sq ft (listed in the German type data sheet as „Tragfläche 116" with 9.0 m) and the „Area-2" wing with roughly 10 sq ft more area and larger control surfaces. Note that the German data sheet additionally lists a „Sportwing" with 10.5 m span – which wing is actually fitted has to be established on the aircraft. The factory quotes a glide ratio of 9:1 (a figure given for the S-6ES, independent of the engine). Then there is the choice of tricycle or taildragger gear. Engines ran from the Rotax 503 (50 hp) via the 582 (64 hp) to the Rotax 912 family; the standard on later versions is the 80 hp Rotax 912 UL, with the 100 hp 912 ULS as an option (plus the Sauer S 2200 UL in the USA). Germany additionally approves the Verner SV 1400 and the Wankel LCR-814 TG ti.

In the air the S-6 is a genuine STOL machine: constant-chord wing, generous flaps, factory takeoff runs of roughly 210 to 220 ft and landing runs around 260 ft. Stall speed is 66 km/h clean and 58 km/h with flaps, about 63 km/h IAS with full flaps on the German version. With the Rotax 912 ULS it climbs at up to 1,250 ft/min, and the tested German ultralight with the 80 hp Rotax 912 reached roughly 4.5 m/s. The cabin is a pleasant 42 to 45.5 inches wide for a tube-and-fabric aircraft, and the main baggage compartment takes 50 lb.

Strengths are the outstanding short-field performance, the docile slow-flight behaviour, the easily repaired airframe and – thanks to roughly 2,100 aircraft built – decent kit-parts availability. The weaknesses are just as plain: a cruise of 169 to 185 km/h is modest next to modern composite ultralights, fabric covering ages and eventually needs replacing, and the sheer number of variants and wings makes every listing an individual case. German type approval is documented in DAeC type data sheet no. 61106 (issue 14, 6 August 2014): an MTOM of 400 kg with the Rotax 503, 400 or 450 kg with the Rotax 582 and Rotax 912, and 450 kg with the Verner SV 1400 and Wankel LCR-814 TG ti; the 450 kg uprating has applied since 1 September 1998 and is tied to the engine/propeller combination, a noise certificate and a re-inspection with weighing. Which figure applies to a given aircraft is stated in the data sheet entry and in the aircraft's paperwork.

The S-6 Coyote II suits pilots who fly short grass strips, enjoy bush-plane character and relaxed slow flight, and who are comfortable maintaining a fabric airframe themselves. Anyone expecting high cruise speeds, glass panels and factory-backed support will be better served by a modern composite ultralight.