Story ID: 302
RANS Aircraft Appoints New President
By: Kait Wilson
Caption: RANS Aircraft has appointed long-term employee Tony Dopita as company president.
Word Count: 204
Hays, Kansas-based kitplane manufacturer RANS Aircraft (Booth 606) has appointed long-term employee Tony Dopita as president, succeeding company founder Randy Schlitter in the role. Schlitter will remain as CEO and his wife, Michele, will retain the role of v-p.

RANS Aircraft was founded in 1983 and has produced more than 5,000 experimental-amateur built kits and ready-to-fly special light-sport aircraft. Production models include the S-7S Courier, S-20 Raven, and S-21 Outbound, with continuing kit support for builders and owners of the S-19 Venterra. Tech, build support, and parts are still available for all RANS models.

Dopita is a third-generation pilot and a second-generation RANS kit builder. He has worked for the company for the past 20 years in various roles in manufacturing and production and has held the role of production manager since 2017.

“Tony knows the planes, the customers, and the business,” said Schlitter, “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.”