Rans Designs


Rans Designs, previously called Rans Inc., is an American aircraft and, formerly, a leading American recumbent bicycle and tricycle manufacturer, based in Hays, Kansas, United States. The company name is a portmanteau of the first and last names of the company founder, Randy Schlitter. Rans has produced over 3000 aircraft in kit form and as completed aircraft.

History

Rans was founded in 1974 as a pedal-powered sail trike and unpowered land yacht manufacturer. Early pedal-powered sail trikes were the Delta SX, Eagle 4, Windhawk and the Monorai. The company was successful in the marketplace, producing over 1500 sail trikes, and also in racing. Even two place tandem pedal-powered sail trikes were produced, like the Rans Gemini. Rans sail trikes were used by such people as avid sailor Bob Hope.
After trying hang gliding and considering designing an ultralight sailplane, Schlitter turned his attention to designing an ultralight aircraft. Dissatisfied with the early ultralights available, he commenced construction of his S-4 Coyote prototype in November 1982. Schlitter founded a new company Aero-Max, with investment from a friend to produce the S-4. The S-4 first flew in March 1983, but the company broke up over financial issues and the design fell to Rans to produce.
Schlitter kept designing new aircraft and by 2006 had a stable of 12 designs in production. On 1 June 2006 Schlitter ended production of many of the designs to concentrate on the new light-sport aircraft market. In 2010 the line consisted of six basic aircraft designs.
By January 2022 the company indicated it was ending bicycle production and was offering the last of its frames for sale. Shortly thereafter the company bike website was blanked.

Aircraft

Model nameFirst flightNumber built
Type
Rans S-2 Coyote19831Single seat, high wing, conventional landing gear ultralight
Rans S-3 Coyote19831Single seat, high wing, conventional landing gear ultralight
Rans S-4 Coyote1983246
Single seat, high wing, conventional landing gear ultralight
Rans S-5 Coyote1983included in S-4 totalSingle seat, high wing, tricycle landing gear ultralight
Rans S-6 Coyote II19881842
Two seat, high wing, tricycle or conventional landing gear light aircraft
Rans S-7 Courier1985325
Two seat, high wing, conventional landing gear light aircraft
Rans S-9 Chaos1986129
Single seat, mid-wing, conventional landing gear aerobatic ultralight
Rans S-10 Sakota1988147
Two seat, mid-wing, conventional landing gear aerobatic light aircraft
Rans S-11 Pursuit19913 Single seat, low-wing, tricycle landing gear lifting body
Rans S-12 Airaile19901000
Two seat, high-wing, tricycle landing gear light aircraft
Rans S-14 Airaile1991125
Single seat, high-wing, tricycle landing gear ultralight
Rans S-15 Pursuit IINot-builtTwo-seat, low-wing, retractable tricycle landing gear lifting body
Rans S-16 Shekari199422
Two seat, low wing, conventional or tricycle landing gear light aircraft
Rans S-17 Stinger199638
Single seat, high-wing, conventional landing gear, open cockpit ultralight
Rans S-18 Stinger II200030
Two seat, high-wing, conventional landing gear, open cockpit ultralight trainer
Rans S-19 Venterra200711
Two seat, low wing, tricycle landing gear light-sport aircraft
Rans S-20 Raven20131
Two seat, high wing, tricycle or conventional landing gear light-sport bush aircraft
Rans S-21 Outbound20171
Two seat, high wing, tricycle or conventional landing gear light-sport bush aircraft

Cycles

Rans was also known as a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of upright and recumbent bicycles. In 2011 the bike line included 16 crank forward upright bike models, 16 recumbents, three tandems and one delta tricycle.
;Pedal forward
  • Fusion
  • Fusion ST
  • Cruz
  • Dynamik
  • Citi
  • Street
  • Sequoia
  • Hammertruck
  • Zenetik
  • Alterra Road
  • Alterra Ti Road
  • Alterra
  • Alterra Ti
  • Alterra 29
  • Alterra 700x
  • Mini
;Recumbents
  • V-Rex LE
  • Ti-Rex
  • Enduro 26
  • Enduro Sport
  • F5
  • F5 Pro
  • Formula LE
  • Stratus LE
  • Stratus XP
  • Stratus XP TI
  • Stratus XP ALl
  • Xstream
  • Xstream 26
  • Xstream Team
  • Rocket
  • Vivo
;Tandems
  • Dynamic Duo
  • Screamer
  • Seavo
;Trikes
  • Trizard