| Since the early 80's Randy Schlitter owner of RANS Aircraft has been on the leading edge of the ultralight and lightsport aircraft market. His award winning, innovative and recognizable aircraft designs can be found flying world wide. In recent years he has cut back from supplying the market with over a dozen models to supplying five the , S-7, S-6, ES, S-12 and the new S-19.
(Randy indicated due to public demand he will also soon be re-introducing the S-9 and S-10.) This gives RANS a very unique marketing advantage. He has a line of aircraft for each market segment whether you are looking for an aerobatic aircraft, to bush plane to cross country cruiser he has a lightsport aircraft that fits the bill. Up until this year all of his planes featured quick and easy to build, tube and rag style construction. At the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo he unveiled his latest creation the RANS S-19. The S-19 is the first "all new aircraft, made and designed in the USA, specifically for the light sport category, to receive SLSA status since the ruling went into effect. “As the first all new US design and manufactured light sport to be offered RANS has achieved something unique as the plane itself.” "The S-19LS is an all metal low wing aircraft relying heavily on CAD/CAM methods. “In fact we never built a prototype, the first aircraft was production tooled and proof of tooling and process.” According to Randy the S-19 came about because he has always wanted to build an all metal aircraft, due to the many advantages of this type of aircraft, and the process used in building them." "The direction of today's manufacturing is toward CNC machining, and our factory today is a far cry from what it was in the early 80's. Today you will see nine or ten CNC machines building parts to aeroplanes. "It takes our girls over thirty hours just to sew up the envelopes for a S6ES" "Our machines can cut out all of the skins for an S-19 in less than 30 hours, giving you both the covering and structure all in one fell swoop." Power for the S-19 is being supplied by the Rotax 912 S, 100 HP 4 cylinder, 4 stroke engine. This is giving the S19 a cruise of over 115 knots. It comes equipped with 24 gallons of fuel, located in wing tanks, this gives the S-19 nearly 5 hours of flight time. Randy has built a number of safety features into the plane. The fuel tanks are made from poly propylene, which can take a very high impact. They are also located several ribs out from the fuselage to keep them away from the pilot. The seats used in the S-19 are designed to take an 18 G impact, and the 43 inch wide cabin area has been developed with high roll over protection, with a high impact crush area forward of the pilot seating area. Controls are standard dual stick and rudder controls, with a castering nosewheel, which uses left and right brakes for steering. The seats can be adjusted back and forth over 5 inches and the seat back recline. Where necessary the rudder pedals can be tilted forward and back. The S-19 also has a storage area that can hold up to 70 lbs. and in fact was designed to hold two of Randy's knock down bicycles. RANS is ramping up production and expects to be producing a plane a week within the next 12 months. | 
