Vashon Ranger LSA Flight Trial

Vashon Aircraft wants to revolutionize light aircraft manufacturing with the Vashon Ranger, an all-metal light sport aircraft intended to be both a sort of RV for outback flying and a trainer. In this video, Aviation Consumer Editor at Large Paul Bertorelli dives deep into the Vashon story, including an indepth report on the factory.

[@Bluegeek1]

I really like this flight demo. Looks so stable and effortless. I am glad Amy said the autopilot is standard equip. That is a BIG plus for a newbie like me

[@flexairz]

Newbies should learn how to fly. Not how to operate a device.

[@dustdevilz4771]

Great to see the Continental O-200 up front! Great bulletproof engine, smart choice.

[@flexairz]

Not so. 100LL is out. Try ULPower engines. Way better and more modern.

[@semiprofessional8470]

@@flexairz the whole point is that it's not modern. There are thousands of them in the air, they sip fuel, parts are everywhere and relatively cheap, and almost any air mechanic can work on it.

[@Claudeblackburn]

WOW such a great value!

[@TheSlickpt]

The price has gone up significantly since this video

[@jeffrymilton1093]

I think John Torode, creator of Vashon has hit the nail on the head. The prices of airplane kits and factory planes just keep spiraling upwards into a pricey rarified air (no pun intended) to where younger generations cannot afford the endeavor. This in turn tends to vaporize the market share. My God we are in 2022 and it seems impossible to believe that more global airplane companies cannot build a reasonably priced and safe, two seater from 75,000 to 80,000 dollars max with current technology?

[@vracan]

funny how they all say that theyre more affordable and thats a big focus for them yet still $$$pricetag well over 100K us

[@richarddavenport5888]

Exactly! That is pretty pricy

[@jamesbagley3138]

She said it didn’t have an AOA indicator on the Dynon, the next shot showed the Dynon with the AOA indicator. Either way, nice plane that will fit someone’s mission

[@kCI251]

Finally someone builds an airplane for the masses. Would love to see the price get down to 75k or less.

[@flexairz]

Build it yourself maybe?

[@u.s.patriot3415]

Please note: I am no doubt a fan of the Vashon Ranger and its use of the Continental power-plant...and reason they do. But, make the following options standard or available, and enjoy the increased continued success: *RELOCATE THE TWO SUPPORTS THAT INTERFERE WITH FORWARD VIEW/SCANNING- *OFFER OPTIONAL DUAL SIDE-STICK OPTION OR DUAL RAM HORN, PRIMARILY FOR TRAINING MARKET, AMONG OTHER REASONS- *T-HANDLE THROTTLE LEVER/QUADRANT, PRIMARILY FOR THE TRAINER MARKET, AMONG OTHER REASONS- *OFFER LIGHT-WEIGHT/STURDY CARBON FIBER WHEEL PANTS- *OFFER A JET-A POWER-PLANT OPTION- (Looking very forward to the more powerful 2-place Ranger for PPL holders and someday, the 4-place model Ranger. Please never lose focus on keeping cost/retail price down).

[@AClark-gs5gl]

Great LSA, just don't like the 2 support arms blocking forward view. Other than that, it's pretty awesome.

[@darrellhay]

That's a floatplane thing

[@flexairz]

You will get used to it.

[@catslab]

Looks like a good small airplane ! Too bad that 5 years later, the price skyrocketed from 99500 as the says, to 159500 for the base model. 60% increase, I never saw that !

[@rocketmanpm]

Don't understand the lack of zinc chromate??

[@vermontaviator1248]

WHOA WHOA WHOA!, STAY TUNED FOR NEXT VT-Aviation review coming soon…

[@jimerickson4754]

I like the concept, but maybe I missed a build step? Will watch this again, deburring? I hope so!

[@kCI251]

With the machines they are using, there are no burrs.

[@denny5564]

This looks like it would make a great kit plane. I would swap the 0-200 for a Jabiru 3300 and save weight add 20% more hp and save another $10K in engine cost.

[@starpilot7674]

I have a Pulsar with a Jabiru. Only one place to get it worked on, and even then they no longer make parts for my engine. I can't replace my engine with a new one, the new engines have different size mounting points. No thanks

[@denny5564]

@@starpilot7674 I love the Pulsar. Never got in one, but love for the chance to fly it. That is the first time I've heard about the Jabiru maintenance problems. Must be an older engine.

[@jacquessmith8653]

If you don't need a license to fly a Lsa aircraft. Why, when you buy one, you have to have their instructors train you for sport certification? By the way, I have been a licensed pilot, i know how to fly. Does this stop me from buying a Vashon?

[@GeorgeStar]

How does this make any sense when you can get a Zenith CH 701 for a lot less with a lot of different engine options?

[@TheSemiArtisticPuma]

Experimental vs certified. The reason the zeniths are cheaper is because you have to build them. To buy a prebuilt one will cost the same or more as this plane

[@richardherbst3507]

Nice to see a product the Chinese can IMPORT! The real key to an enterprise like this is integration of training. We're working on that.

[@trdshortbus8009]

To bad the landing gear is weak and tires aren't atleast 5 inches larger. Great little back country plane if it had stronger legs and big tires.

[@blacklight3330]

I'm a newbie in aviation. But the wing design look odd to me. They said it is ahigh lift wing but it seem so bubbly from the front. It is probably more efficient and better air stream design. But my problem is would it effects rate of lift.(meaning it climb slower but yet more stable)

[@frogmartin4128]

That airfoil looks too symmetrical for a high lift wing ?

[@flyingjeff1984]

I love her taxi speed. She's ready for SWA.

[@richarddavenport5888]

100k 😬

[@philipc7801]

Why not use a rotax 912/914?

[@flexairz]

@@snoopaloop007 Overheating? Rubbish.

[@KlingonCaptain]

I don't think that this guy has ever hear of the Kitfox. Less than a third of the price of the Ranger and you can land it in your back yard.

[@zsoltpapp3363]

A ready to fly kitfox with similar avionics will be around 100k as well. For third of that you get a kit without engine and no options. And its 2000 hours to put it together, which means years of work.

[@BrianOgilvie79]

Useful load is horrible and engine is a O-200D which cannot use MOGAS legally. This makes it an attractive looking airplane, but a DOA design. A cessna 152 and 172 will continue to be the standard at flight schools. Cheap to acquire and very hard to justify using anything else.

[@2Phast4Rocket]

The 100HP version of the O-200 can use the unleaded 87 octane fuel

[@kCI251]

It can now in 2021.

[@nathanielcohen9890]

this plane sort of flopped in the market. it's payload is too light. motor way underpowered.

[@tonywright8342]

That nose wheel turns me of the aircraft. It may well be well designed, but it doesn’t look like it. So not for me.