Taxied up to the ramp today and there was a Lancair Evolution sitting there. The owner came out so I talked to him about it. Said he is a dealer for them and has personally built two. He just flew in from Oregon, FL250 @ 285 KTS.I gotta tell ya that thing looked nice! The build quality was superb, the panel first class and interior second to none. It looked like 285KTS sitting still. Said it takes around 1200 man hours to build. Cost 1.2 million or so with rebuilt or new engine, can't remember which and if you have it built for you. Any of you guys out there have any experiences with one of these? Seem to remember reading somewhere they are unsafe or can be a real hand full.

My understanding is the ones that were "unsafe" were really the high wing loaded baby lancairs that came across the fence very fast, and not many folk had survived a forced landing in one.

Now we all know how Old Wives Tails work...... so, take this the same way.

The Evolution I believe is quite a capable machine, I would like to be capable enough to fly one, and buy one!

I just need an extra zero on the cheque book balance.

The IV-P and IV-P propjet are the ones with the spotty safety record. The Evolution seems to be a very different design with lower stall speeds but comparable performance.

The Jeff's got to take one up a while back.

Here's the link with videos


viewtopic.php?f=11&t=47749&hilit=evolution

This one was on the ramp at THV ( York, Pa) yesterday, WOW!! it's one nice plane. Apparently belongs to Lancairs CEO. Wonder if he would consider an even up trade for an A 36

My hangar neighbor just bought one. Sold his turban Bonanza. He just went to Oregon to pick it up and get some training. He should be back any day.

The Evolution has 33% more wing area than the LancairlV.
The landing speeds should be lower to accommodate the huge fuel weight required for a PT-6. Ity should also be a little more forgiving, but I still think a forced landing with it would be pretty sketchy.
It would not be any worse than a Duke, TBM, or other high performance airplane in a forced landing.

I've ridden in a IV-P and remember the owner talking about the "Safety." You don't stall them, ever, and the speeds in the pattern are insane. IIRC, we were something like 140 knots on downwind, 130 knots on base. 120 knots on final, 110 knots over the fence, and touchdown at 100 or so, with a long roll-out due to the shopping-cart sized wheels/tires. That said, the thing climbs and cruises like nothing I've ever flown in that class (size/engine).

IIRC the Evolution was designed to overcome the high wing loading/high stall speed issue. I think the design criteria was 61 knots.

Marc

I sat in the Evolution on Display @ OshKosh.

It is well built, comfortable, the controls feel natural, G1000 display with FMS keypad is awesome!

It is fast, but for that kind of $$, you could be flying a Royal Turbine Duke at the same (using double the Fuel) or a 5 year old Eclipse going 100kts faster.

Here's a 111 hr. Evolution that came on the market today. It's $1.4 million!

It not certified, no airframe deice, and almost impossible to insure.

There are better choices.

http://www.controller.com/listingsdetai ... 255461.htm

Looks like another addition to my "things to buy" list when I win the lottery.

I've ridden in a IV-P and remember the owner talking about the "Safety." You don't stall them, ever, and the speeds in the pattern are insane. IIRC, we were something like 140 knots on downwind, 130 knots on base. 120 knots on final, 110 knots over the fence, and touchdown at 100 or so, with a long roll-out due to the shopping-cart sized wheels/tires. That said, the thing climbs and cruises like nothing I've ever flown in that class (size/engine).

The huge difference between flying a Duke or an Eclipse , compared to the Evolution will be maintenence cost.
I almost got into an Eclipse deal at a great price, but things fell through. I have a friend that just upgraded his with 100 or so TT at a cost of about half a mill and 6 months time. Parts are propriety and they have no mercy. What would be a 1amu part becomes a 20 amu part quickly. I don't think anybody in there right mind, would get involved. I think Lancair to date has been pretty fair with their parts and would expect them to continue that way.
If I ever got my hands on an Eclipse I would take it experimental to get away from the outrageous parts expence.

I've ridden in a IV-P and remember the owner talking about the "Safety." You don't stall them, ever, and the speeds in the pattern are insane. IIRC, we were something like 140 knots on downwind, 130 knots on base. 120 knots on final, 110 knots over the fence, and touchdown at 100 or so, with a long roll-out due to the shopping-cart sized wheels/tires. That said, the thing climbs and cruises like nothing I've ever flown in that class (size/engine).