Lancair Legacy Explained

The Lancair Legacy, a modernized version of the Lancair 320, is a low-wing two-place retractable-gear composite monoplane manufactured by the American company Lancair. It is available as a kit that cost US$71,500 in 2011.[1] There is also a fixed-gear version, the Legacy FG. The retractable version of the Legacy cruises at 276 mph at 8,000 ft and the fixed gear version cruises at 215 mph.[1] [2] [3]

Design and development

The Legacy features a cantilever low wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed or retractable tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.[3] [4]

The aircraft is made from vacuum-formed composite sandwiches. Its 7.81NaN1 span wing employs a Cole CG10 airfoil at the wing root and a Cole GC11 airfoil at the wingtip. The wing has an area of 7.6m2 and mounts flaps. The aircraft can accept engines of 200to. The standard engine used is the 3100NaN0 Continental IO-550 but engines as small as the 2000NaN0 Lycoming IO-360 four-stroke powerplant can be fitted.[3] [4] [5]

Four Lancair Legacy aircraft have won the Grand Champion Kit Built award at the EAA AirVenture airshow, in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016.[6] [7] [8] [9]

In May 2016, Lancair announced that the company was ending production of new Legacy aircraft kits due to the significant investments that would have been needed to continue manufacturing. The company sold the line in 2017 to Mark and Conrad Huffstutler, who now build the design as Lancair International, LLC, in Uvalde, Texas.[10] [11] [12]

Variants

Legacy RG 550[13]
  • Retractable landing gear model[3]
    Legacy FG 390 and FG 550
  • Fixed landing gear model with Lycoming IO-390 or IO-550[3]
    Legacy Turboprop
  • One example built with the project name "Turbulence"[14]
    CIAC T-90 Calima
  • Licence-built by CIAC in Colombia for the Colombian Air Force

    Operators

    In 2009 the Colombian Air Force ordered 25 modified Legacy FGs to be used as basic trainers. The aircraft feature 15% more wing area than the standard Legacy FG wing, leading-edge cuffs and a ventral fin to improve stability and low-speed handling along with a reshaped vertical tail and rudder. The aircraft are known as the Lancair Synergy and were delivered as kits for assembly in Colombia. The first Synergy was flown in September 2010.[15] [16] [17]

    Notes and References

    1. Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, p. 58. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
    2. Web site: Legacy. 31 July 2010. Lancair. 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100807231413/http://www.lancair.com/Main/legacy.html. 7 August 2010.
    3. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, p. 107. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
    4. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, p. 113. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015.
    5. Web site: The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage. 3 January 2012. Lednicer. David. 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100420012244/http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html. 20 April 2010. dead.
    6. Web site: 2012. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. 1 April 2018.
    7. Web site: 2013. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. 1 April 2018.
    8. Sport Aviation. High-Country Legacy. February 2015. 64.
    9. Web site: Esau. Megan. It's Not Rocket Science. EAA Sport Aviation. 55. Jack J. Pelton. 1 April 2018.
    10. Web site: The End of a "Legacy".... Lancair. 29 July 2016. 2 May 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160724063513/http://www.lancair.com/the-end-of-a-legacy/. 24 July 2016.
    11. Web site: Lancair To Sell Legacy Assets In Favor Of Evolution Series - AVweb flash Article. avweb.com. 30 July 2016.
    12. News: Grady. Mary. Lancair Brand Under New Ownership. 15 February 2017. AVweb. 14 February 2017.
    13. Web site: Lancair Legacy Price List. 14 August 2013.
    14. Web site: One basic rule from a prolific builder. 11 January 2017.
    15. Web site: Lancair To Provide Colombian Air Force With Training Aircraft. 31 July 2010. Aero-News Network. February 2009.
    16. Web site: With new deal, Lancair is flying high. 31 July 2010. Moore. Andrew. February 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120313084053/http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20090204%2FBIZ0102%2F902040352%2F1041&nav_category=. 13 March 2012.
    17. News: Colombian Air Force Flies Lancair Synergy. 11 October 2010. Pew. Glenn. October 2010. AvWeb.

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