ABOUT US 

 Established in 1973 on the plains of western Kansas to build Sailtrikes*, RANS has evolved into a world leader in the ever grow ing recumbent bike and kit plane industries. Setting the standard of innovation in these exciting fields, RANS uses cutting edge technology to produce safe, high quality aircraft and bicycles.





  Since 1973, RANS has be en designing and building innovative products that either sail, pedal or fly. Our history is about as colorful as our products. The following is a brief introduction to our past. The first installment was "Our Early Years". Below is our second installment to the RANS history page. Check this page from time to time for more on RANS history.



​FROM HANG GLIDER HILL TO THE FIRST COYOTE UL
Our Sailtrikes were somewhat of a commercial success. The radical idea of sailing the highways of America was shared by a few nomadic souls. We were finding a much simpler machine; a straight landsailer would have better commercial potential. The first one was the Delta SX, a hot little one seater land yacht that could turn on a dime and accelerate like a lighting bolt.

From the Delta SX, a two seater called the Monorai was developed.

 

    This was a popular machine, powerful and fun for two. As with the Sailtrikes, our marketing efforts included racing. The gatherings with the land yachts were much more successful. They were raced in the dry lakes of Nevada and California with good results.



RADICAL TERRAIN SAILING AT WILSON LAKE HANG GLIDER HILL, SUMMER OF 1981

We even took the land yachts to places not typical for their use, like the crest of a windy hill. The hill, one of the few in Kansas, was at the lake at Wilson where we were trying our hand at hang gliding.

I was encouraged by my hang gliding friends to consider building Ultralights. They were impressed with the quality and durability of the land yachts, thinking it would be nice to have Ultralights on the same level.

I had watched them struggle with these gossamer machines, so delicate and under powered, scoffing at the whole concept of powered flight. I was deep into the design of a foot launch sailplane I was sure would take me to the stratosphere. In fact, I recommended they get a private pilot license and rent a Cessna if they wanted to fly like that!

Then I caught myself thinking; why am I so opposed to this concept of flight on such a bare level? I discovered it wasn't the concept I opposed, but the nature of the machines. They were at best contraptions, void of clean design, void of practicality or durability. Yet these folks put up with these trouble-prone machines, revealing just how precious this form of flight was to them.

Soon after my hill top revelation I was at my drawing board cranking out what would soon become known as the Coyote Ultralight. But there was one more piece needed to bring it about…money.





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