[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] 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 S-4 first flew in March 1983, but the company broke up over financial issues and the design fell to Rans to produce.

On 1 June 2006 Schlitter ended production of many of the designs to concentrate on the new light-sport aircraft market.

[14][15] By January 2022 the company indicated it was ending bicycle production and was offering the last of its frames for sale.