Wed, Apr 01, 2015
Rans Aircraft To Join With Walmart In The Production And Sale Of Rans Kit Built Aircraft And Light Sport Aircraft
ANN's April 1 "April Fools" Special Edition
Rans Designs of Hays, Kansas has joined with Walmart to reach a broader base of aviation enthusiasts and make it “Walmart convenient” to become a pilot and own an airplane. The joint venture will provide airplane kit building assistance and the sale of factory-produced Rans S-20 Raven and S-19 Ventura light sport airplanes.
Key Super Walmart locations will be chosen throughout the country to join in this combined effort. Locations chosen must have the capability of establishing a minimum length runway of 2,000 feet. These locations will modify their automotive and tire servicing centers to provide builders assistance centers for the purchasers of the Rans line of kit airplane products. The same service locations will be used to provide routine maintenance for the S-LSA aircraft.
King Schools has joined in this project to provide the necessary ground training at each of these locations, and sport pilot training schools using the Rans S-LSAs will also be established.
Walmart will have exclusive rights for the marketing of all pilot supplies and pilot-related apparel.
Already-built S-LSA’s sold through the Walmart stores will be painted in a custom Walmart paint scheme including the Walmart logo and slogan of “Save money. Fly better.”
Randy Schlitter, the president of Rans design said, “Marketing our products through an agreement with Walmart means we now have the chance to reach a new and unique customer. Walmart has been looking for a way to expand their “Made in America” appeal and we were in the right place (Kansas) at the right time to make this happen.”
When asked by our ANN reporter if perhaps he is establishing his aircraft partnership with Walmart to allow him to also supply Walmart with his high tech line of superior bicycles, Schlitter said with a wink and a slightly crooked smile, “If you recall aviation history, the Wright Brothers made enough money selling bicycles to fund their airplane business.”
(Images from file)
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