New president at RANS Aircraft

RANS Aircraft Founder Randy Schlitter has handed over the title and duties of president to long-term employee Tony Dopita.

“Tony knows the planes, the customers, and the business and he understands customer service. I’m confident in his ability and his commitment to our customers and our brand. This gives me the opportunity to turn a corner, and I’m happy to spend more time in the R&D department to further the advancements in sport and utility aviation for RANS,” says Schlitter, designer of the RANS line of airplanes.

Tony is a third-generation pilot, second generation RANS kit builder, and has worked for RANS for 20 years. Production manager since 2017, he has performed virtually every task in manufacturing and production, according to company officials.

Randy Schlitter remains CEO of RANS Aircraft, and his wife, Michele, remains in the VP position.

RANS Aircraft produces Experimental-Amateur Built kits and ready-to-fly SLSA aircraft in its factory in Hays, Kansas. Current production models include the S-7S Courier, S-20 Raven, and S-21 Outbound, with continuing support for builders of all RANS models, company officials note. More than 5,000 RANS aircraft have been sold since the company’s founding in 1983.