365-mph Lancair makes maiden flight
By AOPA ePublishing staff
The first flight of Lancair International’s Evolution kitplane took place March 21 at the company’s Redmond, Ore., home base, company officials announced.
The four-seat turboprop is designed for a top speed of 385 mph and a stall speed of 61 mph, a climb rate that exceeds 4,000 fpm, and a range of more than 1,000 nautical miles. Safety equipment includes ballistic parachutes, seat belts with air bags, and energy-absorbing seats for the pressurized airplane.
The Evolution is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT-6-135A, and avionics options include Chelton or Garmin panels. Lancair officials say the Evolution is designed to FAA Part 23 standards. Evolution kits carry a retail price of $250,000.
Lancair plans to display the Evolution at the Sun ’n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla., April 8 through 13.
March 27, 2008
