The Lancair Legacy, a modernized version of the Lancair 320, is a low-wing two-place retractable-gear composite monoplane manufactured by the American company Lancair. It is available as a kit that cost US$71,500 in 2011.[1] There is also a fixed-gear version, the Legacy FG. The retractable version of the Legacy cruises at 276 mph at 8,000 ft and the fixed gear version cruises at 215 mph.[1][2][3]

Legacy
Lancair Legacy RG
Role Kit aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Lancair
Primary user Colombian Air Force
Developed from Lancair 320
Variants Lancair Barracuda
Lancair Legacy FG
Legacy FG instrument panel
Legacy FG
Lancair Super Legacy 550 Twin Turbo

Design and development edit

 
Race 66 Lancair Legacy

The Legacy features a cantilever low wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed or retractable tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.[3][4]

The aircraft is made from vacuum-formed composite sandwiches. Its 7.8 m (25.6 ft) span wing employs a Cole CG10 airfoil at the wing root and a Cole GC11 airfoil at the wingtip. The wing has an area of 7.6 m2 (82 sq ft) and mounts flaps. The aircraft can accept engines of 200 to 310 hp (149 to 231 kW). The standard engine used is the 310 hp (231 kW) Continental IO-550 but engines as small as the 200 hp (149 kW) Lycoming IO-360 four-stroke powerplant can be fitted.[3][4][5]

Four Lancair Legacy aircraft have won the Grand Champion Kit Built award at the EAA AirVenture airshow, in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016.[6][7][8][9]

In May 2016, Lancair announced that the company was ending production of new Legacy aircraft kits due to the significant investments that would have been needed to continue manufacturing. The company sold the line in 2017 to Mark and Conrad Huffstutler, who now build the design as Lancair International, LLC, in Uvalde, Texas.[10][11][12]

Variants edit

Legacy RG 550[13]
Retractable landing gear model[3]
Legacy FG 390 and FG 550
 
Turbine Lancair Legacy
Fixed landing gear model with Lycoming IO-390 or IO-550[3]
Legacy Turboprop
One example built with the project name "Turbulence"[14]
CIAC T-90 Calima
Licence-built by CIAC in Colombia for the Colombian Air Force[15]

Operators edit

In 2009 the Colombian Air Force ordered 25 modified Legacy FGs to be used as basic trainers. The aircraft feature 15% more wing area than the standard Legacy FG wing, leading-edge cuffs and a ventral fin to improve stability and low-speed handling along with a reshaped vertical tail and rudder. The aircraft are known as the Lancair Synergy and were delivered as kits for assembly in Colombia. The first Synergy was flown in September 2010.[15][16][17]

Specifications (Legacy RG) edit

Data from Lancair Legacy webpage[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 22 ft 0 in (6.71 m)
  • Wingspan: 25 ft 6 in (7.77 m)
  • Wing area: 82.5 sq ft (7.66 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 7.95
  • Empty weight: 1,500 lb (680 kg)
  • Gross weight: 2,200 lb (998 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 65 US gallons (246 litres)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental IO-550-N six cylinder, four-stroke aircraft engine, 310 hp (230 kW)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed constant speed

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 295 mph (475 km/h, 256 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 276 mph (444 km/h, 240 kn) at 8000 feet
  • Stall speed: 65 mph (105 km/h, 56 kn) flaps down
  • Range: 1,150 mi (1,850 km, 1,000 nmi) at 8000 feet with reserves
  • Service ceiling: 18,000 ft (5,500 m)
  • g limits: +4.4/-2.2 utility category, +3.8/-2,0 normal category
  • Rate of climb: 2,000 ft/min (10 m/s) at gross weight
  • Wing loading: 23 lb/sq ft (110 kg/m2)

References edit

  1. ^ a b Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, p. 58. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  2. ^ a b Lancair (2010). "Legacy". Archived from the original on August 7, 2010. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d e Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, p. 107. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  4. ^ a b Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, p. 113. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  5. ^ Lednicer, David (2010). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". Archived from the original on April 20, 2010. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  6. ^ "2012". EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  7. ^ "2013". EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  8. ^ "High-Country Legacy". Sport Aviation: 64. February 2015.
  9. ^ Esau, Megan. "It's Not Rocket Science". EAA Sport Aviation. Jack J. Pelton. p. 55. Retrieved April 1, 2018.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "The End of a "Legacy"..." Lancair. May 2, 2016. Archived from the original on July 24, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  11. ^ "Lancair To Sell Legacy Assets In Favor Of Evolution Series - AVweb flash Article". avweb.com. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  12. ^ Grady, Mary (February 14, 2017). "Lancair Brand Under New Ownership". AVweb. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  13. ^ "Lancair Legacy Price List". Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  14. ^ "One basic rule from a prolific builder". Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  15. ^ a b Aero-News Network (February 2009). "Lancair To Provide Colombian Air Force With Training Aircraft". Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  16. ^ Moore, Andrew (February 2009). "With new deal, Lancair is flying high". Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  17. ^ Pew, Glenn (October 2010). "Colombian Air Force Flies Lancair Synergy". AvWeb. Retrieved October 11, 2010.

External links edit