Rans Designs
Encyclopedia
Rans Designs, previously called Rans Inc., is an American
aircraft and bicycle 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.
.
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, his S-4 Coyote
prototype was commenced 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.
Rans is also known as a manufacturer of upright
and recumbent bicycle
s. In 2011 the bike line included 16 crank forward
upright bike models, 14 recumbents, three tandems
and one delta tricycle.
Pedal forward
Recumbents
Tandems
Trikes
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aircraft and bicycle manufacturer based in Hays, Kansas
Hays, Kansas
Hays is a city in and the county seat of Ellis County, Kansas, United States. The largest city in northwestern Kansas, it is the economic and cultural center of the region. It is also a college town, home to Fort Hays State University...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. 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
Homebuilt aircraft
Also known as amateur-built aircraft or kit planes, homebuilt aircraft are constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity. These aircraft may be constructed from "scratch," from plans, or from assembly kits.-Overview:...
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 HopeBob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
.
After trying hang gliding
Hang gliding
Hang gliding is an air sport in which a pilot flies a light and unmotorized foot-launchable aircraft called a hang glider ....
and considering designing an ultralight sailplane, Schlitter turned his attention to designing an ultralight aircraft. Dissatisfied with the early ultralights available, his S-4 Coyote
Rans S-4 Coyote
|-See also:-External links:**...
prototype was commenced 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
Light-sport Aircraft
A Light-sport aircraft, also known as light sport aircraft or LSA, is a small aircraft that is simple to fly and which meets certain regulations set by a National aviation authority restricting weight and performance...
market. In 2010 the line consisted of six basic aircraft designs.
Aircraft
| Model name | First flight | Number built/as of | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rans S-4 Coyote Rans S-4 Coyote |-See also:-External links:**... |
246 (December 1998) | Single seat, high wing, conventional landing gear ultralight | |
| Rans S-5 Coyote | included in S-4 total | Single seat, high wing, tricycle landing gear ultralight | |
| Rans S-6 Coyote II RANS S-6 Coyote II |-See also:... |
1842 (January 2008) | Two seat, high wing, tricycle or conventional landing gear light aircraft | |
| Rans S-7 Courier Rans S-7 Courier |-See also:... |
325 (December 2007) | Two seat, high wing, conventional landing gear light aircraft | |
| Rans S-9 Chaos Rans S-9 Chaos |-See also:-External links:**... |
129 (December 1998) | Single seat, mid-wing, conventional landing gear aerobatic ultralight | |
| Rans S-10 Sakota Rans S-10 Sakota |-See also:-External links:**... |
147 (December 1998) | Two seat, mid-wing, conventional landing gear aerobatic light aircraft | |
| Rans S-11 Pursuit Rans S-11 Pursuit |-See also:-External links:*... |
3 (prototypes only) | Single seat, low-wing, tricycle landing gear lifting body Lifting body A lifting body is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration in which the body itself produces lift. In contrast to a flying wing, which is a wing with minimal or no conventional fuselage, a lifting body can be thought of as a fuselage with little or no conventional wing... |
|
| Rans S-12 Airaile Rans S-12 Airaile |-See also:... |
1000 (2006) | Two seat, high-wing, tricycle landing gear light aircraft | |
| Rans S-14 Airaile | 125 (December 2004 | Single seat, high-wing, tricycle landing gear ultralight | |
| Rans S-16 Shekari Rans S-16 Shekari -External links:*... |
22 (December 2004) | Two seat, low wing, conventional or tricycle landing gear light aircraft | |
| Rans S-17 Stinger | 38 (December 2004) | Single seat, high-wing, conventional landing gear, open cockpit ultralight | |
| Rans S-18 Stinger II | 30 (December 2004) | Two seat, high-wing, conventional landing gear, open cockpit ultralight trainer | |
| Rans S-19 Venterra Rans S-19 Venterra |-See also:-External links:***... |
11 (November 2010) | Two seat, low wing, tricycle landing gear light-sport aircraft | |
Cycles
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
and recumbent bicycle
Recumbent bicycle
A recumbent bicycle is a bicycle that places the rider in a laid-back reclining position. Most recumbent riders choose this type of design for ergonomic reasons; the rider's weight is distributed comfortably over a larger area, supported by back and buttocks...
s. In 2011 the bike line included 16 crank forward
Crank forward
Crank Forward is a category term for a type of bicycle distinct from the road bike, hybrid bike, and mountain bike.The term 'Crank Forward' was created by RANS, Inc., a manufacturer of bicycles based in Hays, Kansas, USA...
upright bike models, 14 recumbents, three tandems
Tandem bicycle
The tandem bicycle or twin is a form of bicycle designed to be ridden by more than one person. The term tandem refers to the seating arrangement , not the number of riders. A bike with two riders side-by-side is called a sociable.-History:Patents related to tandem bicycles date from the late 19th...
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
Tandems
- Dynamic Duo
- Screamer
- Seavo
Trikes
- Trizard