Lancair ES explained

The Lancair ES is an American amateur-built aircraft that was designed and produced by Lancair. While it was in production the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1] [2]

Production of the aircraft kit was ended in 2012.[3]

Design and development

The aircraft features a cantilever low wing, a four-seat enclosed cabin that is 460NaN0 wide, fixed tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.

The aircraft is made from composites. Its 35.51NaN1 span wing employs a McWilliams RXM5-217 airfoil at the wing root, transitioning to a NACA 64-212 at the wingtip. The wing has an area of 140square feet and mounts flaps. The aircraft's recommended engine power range is 210to and standard engines used include the 3100NaN0 Continental IO-550 four-stroke powerplant. Construction time from the supplied kit is estimated to be 2000 hours.[4]

When equipped with the 3100NaN0 Continental IO-550-N the design was referred to as the Lancair Super ES. This was same powerplant used in the Columbia 300 and 350.[5]

In July 2016 the company announced it would be selling the older Lancair lines of aircraft to concentrate on the Lancair Evolution instead. Once the transition is complete the company will change its name to the Evolution Aircraft Company.[6]

Operational history

By December 2011, 90 examples had been completed and flown. At least two examples have utilized custom engine mounts to allow installation of Lycoming IO-540 engines.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Vandermeullen, Richard: 2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 59. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  2. Popular Science. 93. March 1995.
  3. Web site: Our Aircraft. 15 November 2012. Lancair. Lancair. 2012.
  4. Web site: The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage. 15 November 2012. Lednicer. David. 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100420012244/http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html. 20 April 2010. dead.
  5. Web site: Lancair ES/Super ES/ES-P. Plane & Pilot Magazine. 10 April 2019.
  6. Web site: Lancair To Sell Legacy Assets In Favor Of Evolution Series - AVweb flash Article. avweb.com. July 29, 2016. 30 July 2016.
  7. Web site: List of Lancair ES Builders . Lancair-builders.com . 2002-08-13 . 2013-09-14 . dead . https://archive.today/20130913225347/http://www.lancair-builders.com/es/builders.html . 2013-09-13 .