Aircraft overview

The Lancair Evolution is a pressurized, composite, high performance kit aircraft developed by Lancair International in the late 2000s. The prototype first flew in 2008, and customer deliveries followed as an Experimental Amateur Built aircraft rather than a type certificated production model. It is a four-seat, single-engine aircraft aimed at owners who want turbine-class speed, pressurization and modern avionics in a personal aircraft. The Evolution matters because it moved Lancair beyond the smaller, very fast piston designs for which the company was known, into a larger cabin aircraft built around a Pratt & Whitney Canada turboprop installation.

Performance & specifications

Most Lancair Evolution examples are powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-135A turboprop, flat rated at 750 shp. Typical high altitude cruise is commonly reported around 300 knots, with maximum operating altitude generally cited at 28,000 feet. Range depends strongly on fuel, altitude, power setting and reserve policy, but well equipped turboprop Evolutions are often planned in the roughly 1,000 nautical mile class. Useful load varies by individual build, installed equipment and interior, so buyers should review the actual weight and balance data for the specific aircraft rather than relying on brochure figures.

Cabin & avionics

The Evolution seats four in a pressurized cabin with two front seats and two rear seats, plus baggage space suited to personal and business travel. The cabin is wider and more refined than earlier Lancair two-seat and four-seat piston models, but finish quality can vary because each aircraft was completed under the Experimental Amateur Built category. Avionics are not fully standardized. Many aircraft were built with Garmin G900X based glass panels, while later or upgraded examples may feature Garmin G3X Touch, GTN navigators, digital engine monitoring, autopilot upgrades, traffic, weather and angle of attack systems.

Buying & value

Used Lancair Evolution buyers should evaluate the aircraft as both an airframe and a completed project. Important review items include builder quality, completion center involvement, logbook continuity, pressurization system condition, PT6A maintenance status, avionics configuration, service bulletin compliance, insurance history and documented flight test data. Common market distinctions include turboprop versus piston Evolution aircraft, panel generation, interior standard, known ice or non-ice equipment, and total time on both airframe and engine. In the used market, the Lancair Evolution typically sits among fast owner flown turboprops and high end experimental aircraft, priced according to build pedigree, engine time, avionics and documented operating history.