Lancair Evolution
{{Short description|American homebuilt airplane}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name=Evolution
|image=LancairEvolution.jpg
|caption=
|type=Kit aircraft
|national_origin=United States
|manufacturer=Lancair
Evolution Aircraft
|designer=
|first_flight=21 March 2008
|introduction=July 2009
|retired=
|status=Production completed (October 2017)
|primary_user=
|more_users=
|produced=
|number_built=1 piston Evolution (2011)
+70 turbine Evolutions (Sep 2016){{cite web|title=Evolution presentation|url=http://www.evolutionaircraft.com/aircraft/|website=evolutionaircraft|accessdate=21 September 2016}}
|unit cost= US$1.0M (completed turbine-powered aircraft, 2015)Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015–16, page 113. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}
|variants=
}}
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.Vandermeullen, Richard: 2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 58. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851{{cite web|url = http://www.lancair.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=141&Itemid=123|title = Performance Evolved...|accessdate = 20 October 2012|last = Lancair International|authorlink = |year = 2012}}Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011–12, page 106. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X{{cite news|last=Grady|first=Mary|title=Lancair Brand Under New Ownership |url=http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Lancair-Brand-Under-New-Ownership-228495-1.html?omhide=true|accessdate=15 February 2017|publisher=AVweb|date=14 February 2017}}
The Evolution can be powered by a Lycoming TEO-540-A piston engine or a Pratt & Whitney PT6-135A turboprop powerplant.{{cite web|url = http://www.lancair.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=147|title = Evolution Piston Specs|accessdate = 12 December 2012|last = Lancair International|authorlink = |year = 2012}}{{cite web|url = http://www.lancair.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=304&Itemid=142|title = Evolution Turbine Specs|accessdate = 12 December 2012|last = Lancair International|authorlink = |year = 2012}}
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 {{convert|6.5|psi|kPa|abbr=on}} differential pressure, giving an {{convert|8000|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} cabin pressure at its maximum altitude of {{convert|28000|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url = http://www.lancair.com/Main/company_news.html|title = LANCAIR'S EVOLUTION AIRCRAFT COMPLETES A MAJOR TESTING PHASE with FLYING COLORS|accessdate = 2009-09-28|last = Lancair International|authorlink = |date = April 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081216012059/http://www.lancair.com/Main/company_news.html|archive-date = 2008-12-16|url-status = dead}}
The turbine version of the Evolution is powered by the {{convert|750|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Pratt & Whitney PT6A-135A and has a maximum cruise of {{convert|300|knots|km/h|0|abbr=on}} at {{convert|25000|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} on a fuel burn of {{convert|39|USgal|L|0|abbr=on}} per hour of Jet-A. Cruising at an economy cruise of {{convert|270|kn|km/h|0|abbr=on}} at {{convert|28000|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} it burns {{convert|23|USgal|L|0|abbr=on}} per hour. It has a full-fuel payload of {{convert|837|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and a {{convert|61|kn|km/h|0|abbr=on}} flaps-down stall speed.
The piston version is powered by a Lycoming TEO-540-A2A engine and has a maximum cruising speed of {{convert|270|kn|km/h|0|abbr=on}} on a fuel burn of {{convert|22|USgal|L|0|abbr=on}} per hour of avgas. At an economy cruise speed of {{convert|240|kn|km/h|0|abbr=on}} the fuel flow is {{convert|17.5|USgal|L|0|abbr=on}} per hour. It has a full-fuel payload of {{convert|773|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and a {{convert|61|kn|km/h|0|abbr=on}} flaps-down stall speed. A second piston variant was introduced in April 2016, powered by a Lycoming iE2 engine of {{convert|350|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Lancair-Debuts-Piston-Evolution-226010-1.html|title=Lancair Debuts Piston Evolution|work=AVweb|date=April 7, 2016 |accessdate=8 April 2016}}
The first customer kit was delivered on 22 July 2008, and production was planned at that time for two kits per month.{{cite web|url = http://www.lancair.com/Main/company_news.html|title = First Evolution Kit Delivered|accessdate = 2009-09-28|last = Lancair International|authorlink = |date = July 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081216012059/http://www.lancair.com/Main/company_news.html|archive-date = 2008-12-16|url-status = dead}} 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 {{convert|550|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}, {{convert|750|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|867|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}, respectively. The latter version cruises at {{convert|330|kn|km/h|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url = https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Evolution-Adds-Two-More-PT6-Options-228927-1.html|title = Evolution Adds Two More PT6 Options|accessdate = 1 May 2017|last = Rapoport |first = Geoff|work = AVweb|date = 28 April 2017}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.evolutionaircraft.com/blog/evolution-aircraft-company-re-organization-way/|title=Evolution Aircraft Company Re-organization Under Way|date=5 October 2017|website=Evolution Aircraft|accessdate=7 March 2019}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2017/october/19/evolution-aircraft-co-appears-to-have-shuttered|title=Evolution Aircraft Co. appears to have shuttered|date=19 October 2017|website=www.aopa.org|accessdate=7 March 2019}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=591f6c8e-31ad-4901-99aa-47437e125f55|title=Buyer Sought For Evolution Aircraft – Aero-News Network|website=www.aero-news.net|accessdate=7 March 2019}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.bendbulletin.com/business/5722030-151/evolution-seeking-buyers-a-month-after-layoffs|title=Evolution seeking buyers a month after layoffs|first=Joe|last=Ditzler|date=4 November 2017|website=The Bulletin|accessdate=7 March 2019}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.flyingmag.com/evolution-service-network-emerges-as-evolution-aircraft-shuts-down|title=Evolution Service Network Emerges as Evolution Aircraft Shuts Down|website=Flying Magazine|date=22 May 2018|accessdate=7 March 2019}}
Specifications (Evolution with PT6)
File:LancairEvolutionPanel.jpg
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Manuafacturer{{Citation
| title = Evolution Turbine EVOT 750
| publisher = Evolution Aircraft
| date =
| url = https://www.evolutionaircraft.com/aircraft/evolution-turbine/#specs-top
| accessdate = 5 December 2020
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200221053831/https://www.evolutionaircraft.com/aircraft/evolution-turbine/
| archive-date = 21 February 2020
| url-status = live
}}
|prime units?=kts
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=three passengers
|length m=
|length ft=30
|length in=
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=37
|span in=
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=10
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=2650
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=4550
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|168|u.s.gal}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Pratt & Whitney PT6A-135A
|eng1 type=turboprop aircraft engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=750
|prop blade number=4
|prop name=Hartzell Propeller
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=82.5
|prop note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts= 256
|max speed note= maximum cruise speed (true airspeed)
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed kts=61
|stall speed note=flaps down, indicated airspeed
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=300
|never exceed speed note=indicated airspeed
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=1027
|range note=no reserve
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=28000
|ceiling note=limited by RVSM
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=4000
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=13 minutes to 25,000 ft
|sink rate ms=
|sink rate ftmin=
|sink rate note=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
See also
;Related Aircraft
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons category|Lancair Evolution}}
- [http://www.evolutionaircraft.com/aircraft/evolution-turbine/ Official website]
- [http://aero-tv.net/index.cfm?do=app.bestView&videoid=f9c008f2-5d7e-47e8-833c-db87247e49b6 Lancair Evolution video]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0CfmaAi0O0 Lancair Evolution First Flight video]
- [http://www.airliners.net/photo/Lancair-Evolution/1401468/M/ Lancair Evolution prototype at Airventure 2008.]
{{Lancair}}
Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft
Category:Aircraft first flown in 2008