Lancair Evolution Explained

The Lancair Evolution is an American pressurized, low wing, four-place, single engine light aircraft, made from carbon fiber composite, developed by Lancair and supplied as an amateur-built kit by Evolution Aircraft.[1] [2] [3] [4]

The Evolution can be powered by a Lycoming TEO-540-A piston engine or a Pratt & Whitney PT6-135A turboprop powerplant.[5] [6]

Development

The Evolution was designed to meet the same FAR Part 23 aircraft certification standards that type certified aircraft comply with. The kit includes energy absorbing seats.

The aircraft is pressurized and was designed for a 6.5psi differential pressure, giving an 80000NaN0 cabin pressure at its maximum altitude of 280000NaN0.[7]

The turbine version of the Evolution is powered by the 7500NaN0 Pratt & Whitney PT6A-135A and has a maximum cruise of 3000NaN0 at 250000NaN0 on a fuel burn of 390NaN0 per hour of Jet-A. Cruising at an economy cruise of 2700NaN0 at 280000NaN0 it burns 230NaN0 per hour. It has a full-fuel payload of 8370NaN0 and a 610NaN0 flaps-down stall speed.

The piston version is powered by a Lycoming TEO-540-A2A engine and has a maximum cruising speed of 2700NaN0 on a fuel burn of 220NaN0 per hour of avgas. At an economy cruise speed of 2400NaN0 the fuel flow is 17.50NaN0 per hour. It has a full-fuel payload of 7730NaN0 and a 610NaN0 flaps-down stall speed. A second piston variant was introduced in April 2016, powered by a Lycoming iE2 engine of 3500NaN0.[8]

The first customer kit was delivered on 22 July 2008, and production was planned at that time for two kits per month.[9] By December 2011, one piston model and 15 turbine models had been completed and flown. Construction time from the supplied kit is estimated as 1000 hours.

In April 2017, the manufacturer announced new turboprop engine options for the design. The Evolution Turbine can be fitted with three different variants of the Pratt & Whitney PT6 turboprop powerplant producing 5500NaN0, 7500NaN0 and 8670NaN0, respectively. The latter version cruises at 3300NaN0.[10]

The manufacturer issued a statement on 5 October 2017 indicating that they were going through a restructuring and had laid off 22 of its 49 employees on 3 October 2017.[11] The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association reported on 19 October 2017 that the company was apparently out of business, citing inability to obtain product liability insurance following a fatal accident.[12] On 26 October 2017, Aero News Network reported that the company was "for sale. And while reports last week of the company being closed appeared to be premature, the kit maker is certainly struggling" and seeking a buyer. ANN reported also that the company has been unable to obtain insurance due to high-profile accidents.[13] On 4 November 2017, the company indicated in an interview in The Bend Bulletin, that they were still in limited operations, "focused on fulfilling customer commitments" and were seeking investors.[14] On 22 May 2018, Flying reported that the company had shut down, but that an unrelated company, Elite Pilot Services, was providing owners with technical support.[15]

See also

Related Aircraft

External links

Notes and References

  1. Vandermeullen, Richard: 2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 58. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  2. Web site: Performance Evolved.... 20 October 2012. Lancair International. 2012.
  3. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011–12, page 106. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  4. News: Grady. Mary. Lancair Brand Under New Ownership . 15 February 2017. AVweb. 14 February 2017.
  5. Web site: Evolution Piston Specs. 12 December 2012. Lancair International. 2012.
  6. Web site: Evolution Turbine Specs. 12 December 2012. Lancair International. 2012.
  7. Web site: LANCAIR'S EVOLUTION AIRCRAFT COMPLETES A MAJOR TESTING PHASE with FLYING COLORS. 2009-09-28. Lancair International. April 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20081216012059/http://www.lancair.com/Main/company_news.html. 2008-12-16. dead.
  8. Web site: Lancair Debuts Piston Evolution. AVweb. April 7, 2016 . 8 April 2016.
  9. Web site: First Evolution Kit Delivered. 2009-09-28. Lancair International. July 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081216012059/http://www.lancair.com/Main/company_news.html. 2008-12-16. dead.
  10. Web site: Evolution Adds Two More PT6 Options. 1 May 2017. Rapoport . Geoff. AVweb. 28 April 2017.
  11. Web site: Evolution Aircraft Company Re-organization Under Way. 5 October 2017. Evolution Aircraft. 7 March 2019.
  12. Web site: Evolution Aircraft Co. appears to have shuttered. 19 October 2017. www.aopa.org. 7 March 2019.
  13. Web site: Buyer Sought For Evolution Aircraft – Aero-News Network. www.aero-news.net. 7 March 2019.
  14. Web site: Evolution seeking buyers a month after layoffs. Joe. Ditzler. 4 November 2017. The Bulletin. 7 March 2019.
  15. Web site: Evolution Service Network Emerges as Evolution Aircraft Shuts Down. Flying Magazine. 22 May 2018. 7 March 2019.