The concept of a higher-powered Lancair IV derivative was finally filled by the Lancair Propjet.
The Tigress was intended to be a development of the Lancair IV adapted to employ the 6000NaN0 Orenda OE600 V-8 engine, giving it a cruise speed of 4050NaN0. To accept the higher power and the increased speeds the airframe was structurally strengthened. The engine was later cancelled by its manufacturer, Orenda Aerospace, and the Tigress kit was not produced as a result.
The aircraft featured a cantilever low-wing, a four-seat pressurized cabin, retractable tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.
The Tigress was made from composites, including graphite fiber. Its 30.21NaN1 span was 5.31NaN1 shorter than that used on the Lancair IV, mounted flaps and had a wing area of 98square feet. The Tigress's wing used a McWilliams RXM5-217 airfoil at the wing root, transitioning to a NACA 64-212 at the wing tip, the same as employed on the Lancair IV.[2]
The aircraft had a typical empty weight of 2400lb and a gross weight of 3400lb, giving a useful load of 1000lb. With full fuel of the payload for pilot, passengers and baggage was 310lb.
The sole prototype was deregistered on 27 June 2013 and sold, with the tail number (N750L) reserved through 2018.[3] It is preserved on a concrete pad in front of the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute building at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.