Q.
How long has the Ravin been available as a kit?
A. The first prototype
flew September 2003. Currently there are 12 Ravin 500's flying.
Q.
Do you have a Ravin flying in North America?
A. Yes, the Ravin N654RA received
it’s airworthiness certificate October 20th, 2006.
Q.
How did the first flight turn out?
A. We are proud to say, that we took
to the sky after one fast taxi, then flew the pattern for 30 minutes without any
issues. The Ravin had no squawks, other than one or two avionic programming problems.
Q.
What engine choices do you offer in the Ravin?
A. The engine of choice
is the Lycoming IO540 260hp with the Harzell Scimitar 3 bladed prop which provides 1.5 extra inches of manifold pressure through our specially designed cowl.
Q.
What performance figures do you achieve with this engine?
A. Our website shows the performance specs of the Ravin compared to other planes. At sea level, we do see a steady 220mph at 22 map and 2400rpm. The Ravin is designed
to fly 25 squared at all times.
Q.
What are to delivery time for a kit?
A. After receipt of payment, your kit will arrive 90 days later.
Q.
Do you have a Builder's Assist program?
A. Yes, we have modeled our program
around other successful kit builders programs so you can buy between 4 and 20 weeks,
at any stage of the build.
Q.
Do we have to build at your facility?
A. We would prefer you that you build at
our facility. But, unique to the kitplane industry, we offer a mobile service for a portion of
the build, i.e., engine, prop install, rigging, and landing gear.
Q.
Do you have insurance companies that will insure the Ravin?
A. We reviewed a number of insurance companies and chose Harris
Lowery in Athens GA as the best match.
Q.
What type of coverage is available?
A. They offer moving and non-moving coverage. Because they're comfortable with the design and integrity of our kit, their rates are based on pilot experience.
Q.
Is the Ravin hard to fly?
A. The Ravin is a very docile aircraft and forgiving, even though it is a very high-performance machine. It is based on the famous Comanche wing and we've incorporated technical and aerodynamic improvements that allow it to achieve a much greater speed envelope. In fact, stall
speeds are down around a Cessna 182, and the glide ratio is better than the original Comanche.
Q.
Can the Ravin qualify for IFR operation’s?
A. The Ravin is solid IFR platform,
because of the well balanced control surfaces. Once configured for landing, the Ravin requires little adjustment.
