Lancair Evo ...

txflyer

txflyer

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Fly it like you STOL it ♦
A new one flew into our field the other day and I got wood! :lol: What a beautiful aircraft! It'll be at OSH.

I was impressed the trailing link landing gear on it was very substantial and the overall size of it was much larger than pictures do it justice.

330knots, pressurized, turbine, air conditioned, experimental, ... I'm getting a chubby just talking about it again! :goofy:


LAG_aircraft_evo-1b.jpg
 
It's my least favorite looking of the Lancairs, but it does perform great. The Legacy is my dream plane.
 
ktup-flyer said:
It's my least favorite looking of the Lancairs, but it does perform great. The Legacy is my dream plane.
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Funny you mention a Legacy and I'm not trying to be snarky but a Legacy was parked next to the Evo I was looking at the other day and it looked like a toy in comparison. :redface:
 
The Evolution is a remarkably big plane for a 4-place single. I flew the piston version 6 years ago or so, and it amazed me how much of a ramp presence the thing had, and how big it felt when flying. That said, it had the nicest cabin of a 4-seater I've ever been in, not too different in size from an early 310. Docile handling like a certified airplane, very comfortable, easy to fly. Would definitely be on my list.
 
Is the Evo the one with the new experimental turbine engine in it? If so, I saw a video on it from the designer and it looked pretty cool. Probably sounds nice starting up too.
 
LevelWing said:
Is the Evo the one with the new experimental turbine engine in it? If so, I saw a video on it from the designer and it looked pretty cool. Probably sounds nice starting up too.
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The Evolution is available with both a piston and turbine engine, although I don't think they've sold any of the piston variants. I've probably flown the only one that has or will be built.
 
The dude I bought my Pitts from had a turbine Lancair. It was a very awesome airplane.
 
Personally, it is probably the safest plane I would ever fly. I would be so far behind it, that, in a crash, the first responders would probably beat me to the site.
 
I love that thing. Add a parachute and become certified and that could put a big dent into the Cirrus market.
 
JasonM said:
I love that thing. Add a parachute and become certified and that could put a big dent into the Cirrus market.
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I don't think they compete in the same market, do they? The Cirrus is around $800K, and the Evo was like $1.2M? I know that's probably splitting hairs at that point, but going turbine, pressurized, and 300kts+ is a bit of a jump from a turbo'd recip, unpressurized, at 200kts.
 
I was pretty geeked when I got to sit in the one at OSH last year, but then I tried to get out of it... :redface:..That was embarrassing:confused:...

I consider myself pretty fit, (5'8"- 32 waist 170lb ect) but I sat there pretending I was still looking at all the shiny trying to figure out how to stand up, slide out, or roll out without leaving any marks on either the plane or myself.

Ended up grabbing my ankle and pulling my knee into my chest to lift it over the lower door sill. Now maybe there was a handle on the "A" pillar missing or the seat was not all the way back but the seat door configuration was made for an acrobat.

Would still love to have one, but if I got any older or slower I would need to mount one of those hotel pool handicap cranes in my hanger so I can get in and out of the darn thing. :rofl:
 
SoonerAviator said:
I don't think they compete in the same market, do they? The Cirrus is around $800K, and the Evo was like $1.2M? I know that's probably splitting hairs at that point, but going turbine, pressurized, and 300kts+ is a bit of a jump from a turbo'd recip, unpressurized, at 200kts.
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The people that buy a new $800K+ Cirrus, would buy a new $1.2M Evo to get the faster speeds and pressurized cabin. You could bet that if I was between them both, I would find that extra 400K to get 330 Knots. It would be a good step up, just as the jet is. But realistically, if they were to add a chute to it and make it certified, the price would be much more than $1.2M. The Cirrus Jet would likely be a better value with its 7 seats. Heck, the Jet will likely be over $2M in a couple years.
 
I think I'd just find a nice King Air for $800K and save the $400K for fuel/hot sections! :)
 
With a turbine, I'd feel comfortable with no chute.

Lancair IV-P - based on the track record, you'd really want a chute.
 
I was very fortunate today to take about a one hour test flight in a brand new Evolution. There are about 60 of these flying now with approx. 70 sold. All but one were built with a 750shp Pratt PT6-135. It's an all glass panel using Garmin displays. It is an experimental. Most owners use a professional builder to finish the plane after a 2 week build at the Oregon factory. It's pressurized and very quiet. This owner built his with a BRS chute, but for now that is optional. Typical builds are running around $1.4 to $1.6 million.

The plane is an absolute ball to fly. Very fast, very responsive, quiet with low direct operating costs.

With a check pilot in the right seat I did a normal take off, climb to 17.5k, some steep turns, approach to stall, emergency descent and normal landing.

Useful load is great. There is plenty of room inside for four adults and still be able to fill it up. Cruising at 300 kts at 28,000' at 35gph of JetA ain't too shabby. This flight does not make me an expert, but flying it was more fun than staying at a HIExpress.
 

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Very nice.

A hail storm just rolled through the farm up at Hereford and busted just about everything out there so my $1.5MM Evo will have to wait....:sad:
 
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