RDD Enterprises, the Redmond, Oregon, company that built the Perlan 2 high-altitude record challenger, will show the cockpit and interior of its LX7 Conversion for the Lancair IV-P at the Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In and Expo April 5 through 10. David McRae of RDD said the conversion, called the LX7 Conversion, will start at $550,000.
Over the years owners of the Lancair IV-P pressurized four-seat aircraft have added weight through the addition of avionics, air conditioners, and other equipment. This has increased the weight, raised the stall speed, and given the aircraft a more abrupt drop-off when it stalls, he said. Part of the LX7 Conversion is a new set of wings to tame the stall while keeping a 260-knot cruise speed, he said. It is powered by a 350-horsepower TSIO-550 factory overhauled turbocharged engine.
The company began taking orders in March. The standard configuration includes a BRS airframe parachute, 180 gallons of fuel as standard capacity, the new wings, dual Garmin G3X Touch avionics, XM weather, an angle of attack system, and an autopilot. An Iridium satellite phone at $14,900 and a three-screen flight display system at $12,500 are optional.
While the aircraft will be shown partially completed at Sun 'n Fun, the plan is to have it flying by the time EAA AirVenture occurs in July. Owners will present a flying aircraft for conversion to be done by RDD.
