Fred brings up a VERY good point.

I have had the same thought for some time.
If money/fuel were not an issue, I would have  a Legacy too. They are the premier 2 place kit plane on the market and quite frankly the prettiest birds flying.
That being said, with the high cost of fuel, I think the market will have to change or at least shift if fuel prices stay high.
I would be surprised if Lancair has not thought about this.
Due to these circumstances, efficiency is going to be a major selling point moving forward if not key market driver.
I believe there is a void now for this type of airplane.

I would like to see a new Lancair airframe designed around the Thielert diesel engine like the Diamond Twin runs. I believe it uses 135 horse power plants which is a little thin for our current 320/360 fleet but if there was a 170 horse Diesel that burns around 5 gph (diesel or Jet A) on a sleek Lancair airframe that cruises in the 180 knot range, it would without a doubt be a huge hit.
I look at super performance high priced kit planes like I do military jets. Fun to dream about and drool over at an air show but at the end of the day you go home without one...

Sex appeal combined with affordappeal
I like the idea..

Randy L. Snarr
235/320
N694RS


Fred Moreno <fredmoreno@optusnet.com.au> wrote:

I have been pondering Lorn’s commentary about how his 320 cannot be beat for efficient and cost effective cross country cruising. 

 

With oil probably permanently above $70-80/bbl and avgas at $5 a gallon, he makes an excellent point.  Efficiency (particularly cost efficiency) should be a key figure of merit. 

 

However, Lancair has gone upscale and offers only expensive, fire-breathing kit airplanes.   This list has noted that a Legacy starts at $200K completed, and works up. 

 

Has Lancair left a hole in the market place? 

 

If one could produce a relatively simple, fast and efficient lower cost kit for 320/360 engines, is there a currently untapped market? 

 

The most efficient cross country airplane I have found is the Dyn-Aero MCR Sporter which has one kit version (short wings) that carries two people at 160 knots on 100 Rotax horsepower – fixed gear no less.  But it lacks the sex and beauty of the Lancair family airplanes.  And we all know that airplanes have to be beautiful, particularly after all that labor.

 

Is it time to bring back the Lancair 320, upgraded, simpler, even slicker, and keep it inexpensive?

 

Ever curious Fred

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