Ron Ryan fantasized of becoming a pilot as a young boy growing up in a small Iowa town. This dream became reality when Ron obtained his private, commercial, and instrument pilot ratings in only six months, while working as an engineer. Because of his love for flying, it wasn't long before he took his first full-time flying job, as chief pilot of a military charter company. In 1966, Ron became a Lear jet pilot with Mid-West Lear Jet in Kansas City, Kansas and, 

in 1968, he moved to Wichita as chief pilot for a real estate development company. That company became a jet charter service company specializing in corporate executive travel in 1973. In 1976, Ron purchased the company and renamed it Ryan Aviation Corporation and began operating a fueling and maintenance center for aircraft at the Wichita Mid-Continent Airport (Dwight D. Eisenhower Airport). Ryan International Airlines was formed in 1981 to operate large aircraft, at the same time Ryan Aviation upgraded its FAR Part 135 certificate to Part 121 air carrier certificate. In 1994, Ryan Aviation Corporation was sold, due to the growth and success of Ryan International Airlines.

Ryan's 'Can Do' motto is what carried him from one Lear jet in 1969 to a airline corporation boasting more than 1,500 employees and over $200,000,000 in annual sales.

In June 2004, Ryan International sold to Rubloff of Rockford, Ill. This has freed Ron up to pursue other investment ventures that he has been involved with for years and take time to smell the roses with his wife Renae.