Vashon Ranger

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Jim B

Pre-Flight
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Nov 13, 2025
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Jim
You guys have helped me tremendously in my search for an airplane that fits my mission and I think I’ve found it. I flew the Ranger and feel “it’s the one”, but before I slap the money down on one, I was wondering if there’s any Ranger Pilots out there that can give me some of your thoughts on the plane.
Thanks
 
Not a Ranger pilot, but it seems like a neat little airplane. I wonder if they will expand the range beyond what they're currently offering on their website. A full-fuel useful load of 276lbs would give me pause (and preclude a passenger, in my case). Perhaps post-MOSAIC, they'll up the gross a bit?
 
Vashon said they would increase the weight once the rules changed when I spoke to them at SNF a few years ago. I recommend you call them and see if/when that will happen. It’s a cool little plane (for a high wing) but it’s not very useful without raising the weight limit.
 
The info I’ve gotten is Mosaic will allow them to change from 1320lbs to 1420lbs/1500lbs in July and then with a minor landing gear change to 1600lbs. They’re looking at a 4 seat version and a seaplane. I was just wondering if anyone has one and what they think about flying it.
Thanks
 
I think @Tools has the skinny on the Ranger.

I really do admire John Torode. The founder of Dynon and Vashon.
 
I looked at that plane back when I was shopping for a small plane but lack of useful load and that fact that it was not Rotax based was a pretty much deal killer for me.
 
One of the selling points on their website is they went with continental because any mechanic in Podunk USA, would have the knowledge and probably the parts to fix it. But if you like rotax person I see why you chose not to go there
 
Jim B said:
One of the selling points on their website is they went with continental because any mechanic in Podunk USA, would have the knowledge and probably the parts to fix it. But if you like rotax person I see why you chose not to go there
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The fact that the plane was lacking useful load was largely due to them using a significantly heavier legacy engine but given latest Mosaic rules and their willingness to increase max gross, this may no longer be a problem and in any case - this is really a fun plane and not a cross country workhorse so if that is all you are looking for then it does not really matter.
 
Warmi said:
I looked at that plane back when I was shopping for a small plane but lack of useful load and that fact that it was not Rotax based was a pretty much deal killer for me.
Click to expand...
Iirc, Torode was there for the first test run of an engine by EPI. Speculation was he was going to use that engine for the Ranger. Why they went o200 over anything Rotax is anyone's guess.
 
Jim B said:
One of the selling points on their website is they went with continental because any mechanic in Podunk USA, would have the knowledge and probably the parts to fix it. But if you like rotax person I see why you chose not to go there
Click to expand...
The same applies to the aluminum construction too; getting a patch in Podunk for your imported plastic fantastic Euro bird could be a problem.

Paul Bertoelli said it handles "like an RV-8", which sounds more exciting than most new LSAs.
 
It’s a nice flying plane all around. Not quite an -8, but light and responsive. I’ve flown in some crazy winds and it did great. Long trips are comfortable. Lots of room.

Would bring it into the overhead in Gulf Shores all the time.

The little o200 was plenty.

Only shortcomings are not really mil spec durable and high density altitudes (above 5 or 6k).
 
I was wondering if there’s any Ranger Pilots out there that can give me some of your thoughts on the plane.
Click to expand...

I have about a dozen hours in the Vashon Ranger. Roomy and comfortable for cross-country. It handles crosswind landings nicely. I find it very enjoyable to fly.

Anything particular you'd like to know?

lacking useful load... but given latest Mosaic rules and their willingness to increase max gross, this may no longer be a problem
Click to expand...

It'll be interesting to see whether any allowances are made for the pre-MOSAIC fleet. When reading through MOSAIC, I did not see any mechanism mentioned to allow pre-existing LSAs already "in the wild" to have their max gross increased. Maybe such a thing will be written into the new post-MOSAIC ASTM consensus standards?

Who knows, maybe it will simple as a manufacturer's Letter of Authorization or Service Bulletin?
 
Mark at Skywagon University just did a video about the Ranger. Click Here Seems like a pretty nice plane.
 
HornedFrogGrant said:
I have about a dozen hours in the Vashon Ranger. Roomy and comfortable for cross-country. It handles crosswind landings nicely. I find it very enjoyable to fly.

Anything particular you'd like to know?



It'll be interesting to see whether any allowances are made for the pre-MOSAIC fleet. When reading through MOSAIC, I did not see any mechanism mentioned to allow pre-existing LSAs already "in the wild" to have their max gross increased. Maybe such a thing will be written into the new post-MOSAIC ASTM consensus standards?

Who knows, maybe it will simple as a manufacturer's Letter of Authorization or Service Bulletin?
Click to expand...
No just that kind of feedback, thanks
 
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