Guy Leitch | Images: Justin De Reuck Lancair Evo
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GUY LEITCH | IMAGES: JUSTIN DE REUCK LANCAIR EVO Lancair Evo is a true four-seater with jet performance but with the ability to fly from grass strips. 48 SA Flyer FLIGHT TEST the evolution of the species: Frikkie Greeff knew exactly what he wanted: a plane that could easily get in and out of his grass strip at Fort Beaufort and then fly four people faster than 250 knots for at least 1,000 nm in pressurised comfort. Oh, and it had to burn JetA1, as Avgas is not always available at the places he needs to get to. The only problem was – that plane just didn’t exist. www.saflyermag.com HE supposed Pat Hanly at Port Alfred. Pat already had forced landing and that Evo is flying again. solution to those a long and fruitful relationship with Frikkie, However, it didn’t make much sense performance having first maintained his C177 and Aztec, for only Frikkie to do the factory supplied requirements was and then a string of Mooney’s from the 201 17 hours of training in Redmond Oregon, one of the new breed to an Ovation and then a new Acclaim. Pat as others also needed to be able to fly the of personal jets. But thought the Evo was a fantastic idea and Evo. So Frikkie sent the highly experienced Cessna’s Mustang, reckoned he could assist Frikkie to build instructor Les Daley of Westline Aviation to the Eclipse 550 or and finish it, and then accomplish that most Oregon to get the factory instruction and Phenom 100 do not difficult of all steps, getting it approved with then to properly train Frikkie and Pat Hanly have the ability to operate out of his grass the essential IFR Authority to Fly by the on the specific demands of flying the Evo. Trunway – or the ability to fly 1,000 nm non- notoriously obdurate South African CAA. Finally in May last year, Frikkie’s Evo, stop carrying four people and baggage. The story of how Frikkie and Pat number 61, was ready to fly. As this was The King Air 200 is just far too big and completed the Evo is told here separately, the very first Evolution to be built outside expensive for Frikkie who often flies alone, but after a two-year labour of passion, the the USA, Lancair insisted on inspecting and the US$2.5 million Piper Meridian has plane was ready to fly at Pat’s hangar. It the aircraft before the first flight to ensure too little payload with full fuel, and won’t may have looked a bit rough in its battleship that it was built to their exacting standards. easily do 250 knots in the cruise. The TMB grey base coat of paint, but was beautifully Lancair CEO Bob Wolstenholme flew out 900 might – but it costs US$4 million. built and carefully checked from spinner to from Oregon to Port Elizabeth to inspect So Frikkie continued to hammer along, wingtips to tail. the (almost) finished plane and help sucking oxygen at FL180, doing 210 knots The manufacturers of high performance with the test flight. It went perfectly, and in his Mooney Acclaim, and struggling personal aircraft have learned the hard Wolstenholme was impressed. with expensive Avgas supplies – until he way to make sure the pilots who fly their Then started the long battle with the heard about the Lancair Evo. He flew to planes are properly trained and have not CAA to get an IFR Authority to Fly. This the Lancair factory at Redmond, Oregon to just had a ‘quick conversion’. Cirrus, Eclipse took six months of hard negotiating and check it out and get introductory flights, and and Lancair have developed intensive finally threats of legal action to accomplish. came away knowing he just had to have and demanding training programmes. Once an initial 25 proving hours had been one. Notably, the very first Evo to be imported done, Frikkie was ready to fly the plane The problem was that he had to build it into South Africa had a terrible first flight, to Cape Town for Robin Coss to work his and then try to get it approved by the CAA. from Lanseria to Wonderboom, when the magic with a stunning paint finish. Being based in the Eastern Cape, he still unfamiliar pilot switched off the fuel. Pat and Frikkie had hoped to have it knew exactly who to turn to – SA Mooney’s Fortunately, he pulled off a very creditable ready in time for the 2016 AAD Expo in Cockpit is designed around two 10 inch LCD displays of the G900X Primary Flight Display (PFD) and Multi-Function Display (MFD). 50 SA Flyer FLIGHT TEST A major benefit of carbon fibre construction, in addition to its primary attributes of light weight, strength and durability, is the ease of creating an airtight pressure vessel. Doors, floors and control runs are sealed with gaskets and inflatable door seals. The Evolution uses a new aerofoil that’s totally different from the wing on the IV-P. Lancair says it’s a proprietary semi-elliptical profile, reminiscent of the Spitfire wing, designed to have that elusive combination of a benign stall yet still be capable of high speed cruise. As with all Lancairs, Beautifully finished side- the aircraft’s composite carbon-fibre stick with Chinese-hat construction results in a beautifully smooth pitch and yaw trim. wing and fuselage surface, with elegant compound curves and no rivet heads or overlapping panels to disturb airflow. The cockpit is even more impressive, being dominated by the two 10 inch, sunlight readable, high definition LCD displays of the G900X Primary Flight Display (PFD) and Multi-Function Display (MFD). The 900X is Garmin’s experimental version of the now industry standard G1000 and has all the capabilities, including the G1000’s integral GFC700 autopilot. Frikkie chose not to take the optional input keypad as it does not have a qwerty keyboard – as the G3000 now has. It says a lot for Excitement as the container arrives Garmin’s trust of the Evo that it is the only at Albany Air Park South Africa. non-type certified aircraft approved by Garmin for this hugely capable autopilot. It’s easy to get comfortable, as the seats slide forward and back, putting the September, but you can’t rush an artist. WALK AROUND side stick at the end of your arm. Short Frikkie wanted the paint job to be done just As the hangar doors rolled back, people need not worry about reaching the right. Finally ZU-EVO was finished and I was struck by how large the Evo is. I rudder pedals, because they also adjust. was flown back to Frikkie’s hangar at Algoa had thought it much the same size as The cabin is surprisingly spacious, Flying Club in Port Elizabeth. the Lancair IV-P, which I had first flown with plenty of leg and shoulder space for The flight back showed just what some 20 years ago, but this is a much both the front and rear seaters. The rear this remarkable plane is cable of. At just more substantial aircraft. And this is no seats are comfortable and have plenty of 1,090 lbs of torque, the Evo was clocking experimental homebuilt. The fit and finish legroom. Unlike most four-place planes, the a phenomenal 352 kt ground speed on of the control surfaces and panels is better wide door makes it almost as easy to get in just 33 gph. It may have been helped by than factory built. the back as the front. The rear seats have a significant tailwind – but it still thrilled The Evolution is pretty much a clean- quick-release knobs that allow removal of Frikkie. sheet design, specifically configured one, or both, of the seats, should the owner At this magazine we had seen some for pressurised, high-altitude flight and want to carry cargo instead of passengers. sneak pics of the paint scheme and turbine power. It’s a product of 21st But the baggage bay is already plenty wanted to be the first to do this beautiful century computer-aided design and commodious and has a generous 100 kg aerial hotrod justice with the best air-to-air manufacturing, with safety features such limit. pics. The most suitable camera ship was as a BRS parachute and 26-G energy ZU-EVO has fairly standard equipment undoubtedly our Saratoga – which had absorbing seats. Other than a superficial for this capability of aircraft and weighs enough speed to suit the Evo. So we flew resemblance, the Evo is not remotely like 2,656 pounds empty, giving a 1,894 lb the ‘Toga south from Lanseria and met our the Lancair IV. Lance Neibauer, father of useful load. With the standard 168 gallons ace photog, Justin de Reuck, who had flown the original Lancairs, had no input on the of Jet A in the wet wing, you can still put in from Cape Town. Evo. 752 lb in the cabin. That is full tanks, plus www.saflyermag.com 4 people averaging 175 lbs plus 52 lbs of ABOVE - Long nose houses PT6A-135A limited around the windy city. baggage. So yes – this is that rarity – a to a max. 750 shp driving four-blade Hartzel We ate up the miles to Jeffrey’s full tanks, full seats and practical baggage prop. Is prop clearance a little low for grass Bay until Justin was satisfied. Turning personal plane. strips? eastwards, we were blown back to the The seats are hand stitched leather and airport by the 30 knot westerly, fortunately the windows are expansive, especially nice BELOW - Trailing-link main undercarriage for straight down Runway 26.