Lancair 200 / 320 / 360 / Lancair International Lancair 360

In 1982 Martin Hollmann held one of his aircraft design classes in Santa Monica, CA. Six people attended including Lance Neibuaer. He asked Martin if there was a future in bringing to market a new, two place sport aircraft. Martin of course said “yes.” Two years later, Lance sent Martin a request to perform a stress analysis on his two place design and a check for $200. Richard Trickel offered to build the moulds for Lance’s aircraft at no cost. Richard had formed a composite fabrication company called High Tech Composites in Oxnard, CA. Lance moved to Santa Paula, CA based on Martin’s recommendations and rented a shop space that had been occupied by Jim Kern of Task Research. The new aircraft was powered by a Continental O-200 and Lance called his aircraft the Lancair 200. It had a cruise speed of 200 mph. Although the prototype was made of urethane and hot wire cut styrofoam and covered with wet layed up fiberglass, the production Lancair 200 kit parts were made of temperature cured, prepreg fiberglass and graphite parts. They were lighter and stronger than the epoxy, wet layed up, fiberglass parts used on most kits at that time.

Lance Neibauer sold his family home to pursue his dream of producing the perfect kit. At the time, only the prototype had flown but its performance on an O 235 engine was good. The Lancair 200 is a sleek two-place retractable with maximum level flight speed of 213 mph and 625 pound useful load, and 193 mph cruise. Comprising 27 premoulded, oven cured components, it can be put together in around 600 hours.

Lancair 235 ZK-PDS

The structural integrity of the Lancair wing is said to be +9G and 4.5G ultimate at maximum all up weight (MAUW). This is achieved with an airframe in excess of 25 per cent lighter than similar aircraft built using different construction methods.

At Oshkosh 87 Lancair unveiled its new 320 model, powered by a 150 hp Lycoming O-320. This increased the cruise to 230 mph from the 235 models 210 mph. Kit prices in 1987 were $16,900 for the 235, and $18,500 for the 320.

When the NEICO “fast build kit” became available early 1990, popularity resulted in a one year waiting list. Two years in the development, the kit provides all major sub assemblies including the fuselage ex factory with a resultant saving of up to 700 hours by the builder.

In twelve years 400 kits had been sold using 108-180 hp.

Lancair 360

Two models were available in 1990; the 118hp version with a fixed pitch propeller returns a 180 knot cruise on 75 per cent power while the Lancair 320, sporting a 160 hp Lycoming and constant speed unit, has a 210 knot cruise. The kit price was $18,950 (1987), and $23,200-28,900 in 1998. A kit was also available in carbon for $34,400 in 1998. The 320 is approved for aerobatics. The 320 replaced the 235.

The Lancair 360 has optional wingtip extensions that take the wing from its usual 7.2 m out to 8.3 m. The empty aircraft weighs in at 543 kg and is powered by a Lycoming IO-360-B1F engine behind an MTV-12-B/175-59d three-bladed propeller.

The Australasian market is provided for by licence built 235 and 320 kits manu¬factured by Avtex at Ballina on the NSW coast. The Australian company takes prospective builders step by step through the construction manual. Deposits for twenty eight Lancairs were held by the NSW company in 1990 which has the capacity to turn out one kit every ten days. Standard kits can be constructed in around 800 900 hours while the “fast build” comes together in as little as 200 300 hours.

Aviation Composite Technology / ACT in the Philippines was formed in 1990 to develop the Apache I military trainer from the Lancair 320. 1988 saw the first flight of a Lancair 320 assembled in the Philippines by Aviation Composite Technology (ACT) in a venture with Aerotech S.A. of Switzerland.

In 1991 in the Philippines, Pacific Aeronautical, the new name of ACT relocated to Cebu City started producing airframes for Lancair 320 and Lancair IV, the new higher-powered, four-seat version.

200
Engine Continental O-200, 100hp
Wingspan: 23’6″
Length: 19’8″
Useful load: 650 lb
Max speed: 210 mph
Cruise speed: 195 mph
Stall: 55 mph
Range: 1000 mi approx.
Seats: 2

235
Engine: Lycoming O-235 or -290, 100hp
Wingspan: 23’6″
Length: 20’0″
Useful load: 600 lb
ROC: 1300 fpm
Max speed: 160 kt / 225 mph
Vne: 235 kt.
Cruise: 140 kt / 210 mph
Stall: 55 mph
Range: 1000 mi approx.
Seats: 2
Kit price 1988: $19,975

320
Engine: Lycoming O-320, 160 hp
1987 (TC LC20)
Wingspan: 23’6″
Length: 21’0″
Useful load: 635 lb
Max speed: 250 mph
Cruise: 210 kt / 225 mph
Stall: 63 mph
Range: 1020-1250 mi
Seats: 2

360
Engine: Lycoming IO-360, 180 hp
HP range: 160-180
Speed max: 260 mph
Cruise: 235 mph
Range: 1140 sm
Stall: 63 mph
ROC: 1750 fpm
Take-off dist: 390 ft
Landing dist: 900 ft
Service ceiling: 18,000 ft
Fuel cap: 43 USG
Weight empty: 1090 lbs
Gross: 1685 lbs
Height: 6.5 ft
Length: 21 ft
Wing span: 23.5 ft
Wing area: 76 sq.ft
Seats: 2
Landing gear: retractable nose wheel

Lancair 360
Engine: Lycoming
Wing span: 7.16 m
Wing area: 6.99 sq.m
MAUW: 764 kg
Empty weight: 494 kg
Fuel capacity: 159 lt
Max speed: 418 kph
Cruise speed: 386 kph
Minimum speed: 101 kph
Climb rate: 13 m/s
Seats: 2
Kit price (1998): $27,950

360 Mk.II

Neico / Lancair Internarional

With a family background in aviation (Meyers Aircraft), Lance Niebauer, a Californian graphics artist, sold his family home and chattels in order to pursue the dream of producing the perfect kitset aircraft, founding the company in 1984. The original Lancair 200 composites monoplane, designed by Lance Niebaur, first flew in 1984.

The first model Lancair 200 was developed in 1984 and today, that prototype resides in the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Museum in Oshkosh, WI.

1988:
Neico Aviation Inc
403 S. Ojai St
Santa Paula
California 93060
USA

From the subsequent Lancair 320 evolved the Lancair 320 Mk II two-seat monoplane that was available in kit form. In July of 1999 The Legacy 2000 was introduced as the successor to the Lancair 320/360. The Legacy provides additional passenger and luggage space as well as increased performance over the previous Lancair 360. Using a 310 hp Continental IO-550-N, the Legacy achieves cruise speeds in excess of 276 mph at 8000 ft.

In Sept of 2001 Lancair International flew their turbine engine powered Lancair IV-P. The Lancair Sentry is a Walter turbine powered Lancair IV is a military-style tandem seat aircraft with left-side throttle controls, and a rear hinge canopy. “The airplane performs very similar to the existing Propjet model, achieving a cruise speed of almost 400 mph! ”Not only does this new Lancair kit yield blood-boiling speeds similar to the IV-P Propjet model, it also offers increased yaw stability and excellent visibility out of a newly designed rear hinge canopy.

There are kits for the four-seat Lancair IV, IVP with pressurized cabin and Tigress as a two-seat variant of IV. Four-seat Lancair Super ES has also given rise to the Columbia 300 for certification, the latter being a joint venture program with a Malaysian organization.

1995: Marketed by Lancair International from 2244 Airport Way, Redmond, OR 97756, USA. Lancair International Inc. manufactures advanced composite structures at its Redmond, Oregon facility.

In February 2003, founder and president, Lance Neibauer announced the sale of his kit company to Joseph C. Bartels, a previous Lancair IV-P customer. Joseph C. Bartels, an attorney from New Orleans, first became involved with Lancair in December 1992 when he took delivery of a Lancair IV-P kit. Since then he and a partner formed Aero Cool, LLC, a company that provides air-conditioning units for the Lancair IV’s, now sold exclusively through Kit Components Inc., a division of Lancair International Inc. Joe holds a private pilot certificate with instrument rating as well as an A & P rating.

2009: Lancair International, 2244 Airport Way, Redmond, OR 97756, USA.

Lancair, in 2009, had a market segment that outsold the production market fleet by more than 3 to 1.

The Lancair family of aircraft covers the range of private pilot aircraft from the solid two-seat aerobatic Lancair Legacy, the economical two-seat Legacy fixed-gear to the four-seat, fixed-gear Lancair ES, the 330 mph Lancair IV speedster to the fourth-ever pressurized piston single in the history of aviation, the Lancair IV-P. In 2000 Lancair was proud to announce a turbine engine option to the Lancair IV-P. This high-powered turbine will propel the Lancair IV-P to incredible speeds of up to 370 mph.

NEAT F-2 / Engle T-1

Apparently brought in as the 1929 Engle T-1 and renamed in 1930, the F-2 N11028 c/n 27 was sold (as forfeiture of mortgage) to Richard D Savage of Brighton MA for $4,000 on 15 November 1930, then to Nina L Armitage of Manville RI on 4 April 1934, who reported to CAA on 16 March 1936, “Aircraft now being dismantled.” The sole example of the F-2 open cockpit biplanes registration was cancelled by CAA 15 April 1936.

The F2-WG of 1929, NX117M c/n 26, was powered by an 85hp Wright-Gypsy. The registration of the one built was cancelled on 26 January 1931.

F-2
Engine: 90hp DH Gypsy
Wingspan: 30’0″
Length: 21’0″
Seats: 2

F2-WG
Engine: 85hp Wright-Gypsy

NDN Aircraft NDN-6 Fieldmaster / NAC 6 Fieldmaster / THK TAYSU

First flown in 1981, the turboprop Fieldmaster agricultural aircraft features a built in ferry tank and a titanium hopper that forms an integral part of the fuselage structure.

THK bought up all rights to the NAC-6 Fieldmaster/Firemaster agricultural and firefighting aircraft, and tried to sell the aircraft on the market under the new name TAYSU (Tarimsal Havacilik ve Yangin Söndürme Uçagi). After producing only two airworthy and two completely assembled, but engineless aircraft during 1997-1999, the production was stopped because of the general economic crisis and particularly because of internal association difficulties. Since these difficulties were apparently insurmountable, and new agricultural and firefighting aircraft were urgently needed, at the end of 2001 five Polish Pezetel M-18B Dromader were bought.

THK – TAYSU c/n 6002 / TC-ZBD at the Ankara IDEF 1999

NAC 6 Fieldmaster
Engine : PT 6 A 34AG, 552 shp
Length: 36.089 ft / 11.0 m
Height: 13.451 ft / 4.1 m
Wingspan: 53.15 ft / 16.2 m
Wing area: 357.365 sq.ft / 33.2 sq.m
Max take off weight: 8500.3 lb / 3855.0 kg
Weight empty: 4996.5 lb / 2266.0 kg
Max. weight carried: 3503.7 lb / 1589.0 kg
Hopper cap: 2642 lt
Max. speed: 143 kts / 265 km/h
Landing speed: 60 kts / 111 km/h
Ldg dist: 300 ft
Cruising speed: 126 kts / 233 km/h
Manoeuvring speed: 135 kt
Initial climb rate: 964.57 ft/min / 4.9 m/s
Service ceiling: 18209 ft / 5550 m
Wing load: 23.78 lb/sq.ft / 116.0 kg/sq.m
Range: 999 nm / 1850 km
Seats: 2
Crew: 1

NDN Aircraft NAC 1 Freelance

A conventional four seat light single, the Freelance can fold its wings to slip into a space four metres by nine metres. The swing wing capability has enabled a lengthy 39 foot span wing, providing an aspect ratio of over nine. The higher the aspect ratio the less the induced drag; enabling the manufacturer to claim that the Freelance, weight for weight, burns less fuel generating its lift than all other aircraft in its class.

First flown in September 1984.

Powered by a 180hpLycoming, the Freelance offers a cruise on 75 percent power of 117.3 knots (135 mph), an 800 fpm rate of climb, a take-off run (to 50feet) of 1380feet (421 metres) and a landing run (from 50 feet) of 1120 feet (341 metres). Total useful load is 1050 lb. Equipped with large section tyres, the Freelance can operate from grass strips. A 100 United States gallon capacity detachable belly tank is available for the spray role.

Engine: Lycoming, 180 hp
Wing span: 39 ft
Cruise 75%: 117.3 kt (135 mph)
ROC: 800 fpm
Take-off run (to 50 ft): 1380feet (421 metres)
Landing run (from 50 ft): 1120 feet (341 metres)
Useful load: 1050 lb

NDN Aircraft NDN-1 Firecracker / Turbo Firecracker

Designed by N.D. Norman, formerly of the Britten Norman Company, the prototype of the NDN 1 Fire-cracker (G NDNI) two seat civil and military training and sports aircraft made its maiden flight on 26 May 1977.

NDN Aircraft NDN-1 Firecracker Article

Desmond Norman designed, built and flew the prototype of a high performance piston single, the NDN1 Firecracker. Its origin can be traced to the day a friend of his thought he’d buy a Siai-Marchetti SF.260; Norman decided to build you a better airplane. Norman aimed to neither build nor market the Firecracker himself but to sell the whole manufacturing project to a smaller country that perhaps had never even built aircraft before.
Intended as a primary military trainer, the Firecracker is designed to + 9 and -6 Gs, and the prototype has full inverted fuel and oil, controllable three blade Hoffrnan prop, pushrod ailerons and elevators and a rate of roll that should exceed 200 degrees a second. Range is 1,390 nautical miles to dry tanks, 75 percent cruise 175 knots on a 260 horsepower Lycoming. Gross is 2,650 pounds, or 2,150 pounds for advanced aerobatics. It can operate to 50 feet inside 1,200 feet of run. The tall gear is designed to allow under wing weapon pods, and there is an under fuselage air brake to steady the machine on a diving at-tack run, and to keep it below Vne.

The cabin is wide and deep, to allow occupants to wear full military flying gear, and its layout is very military. The rear seat is substantially raised above the front one, to give the observer/instructor a remarkable view of what is happening. That straight, low aspect ratio wing looks odd on such a high performance design, but it is easier to build than a tapered wing.

From this aircraft has been developed the turboprop powered NDN-1T Turbo Firecracker, the first flown on 1 September 1983.

Norman NDN-1T Turbo Firecracker

NDN-1T Turbo-Firecracker
Engine: 1 x P&WAC PT6A turboprop, 410 kW
Span: 7.9 m
Length: 8.3 m
Wing area: 11.9 sq.m
Empty wt: 1210 kg
MTOW: 1830 kg
Max speed: 375 kph
Initial ROC: 628 m / min
Ceiling: 8260 m
T/O run (to 15m): 530 m
Ldg run (from 15m): 760 m
Fuel internal: 405 lt
Range: 1120 miles

NDN Aircraft Ltd

Established 1976 by N. D. Norman, formerly of Fairey Britten-Norman, to develop the NDN-1 Firecracker two-seat trainer/sport aircraft. The first piston-engined prototype flew in May 1977; turboprop variant of Firecracker first known as NDN 1T Turbo Firecracker (see The Norman Aeroplane Company). Also developed Fieldmaster agricultural aircraft (first flown 1981) and Freelance four-seat utility lightplane (first flown 1984).

Navion Rangemaster Aircraft Co

USA
In 1972 Navion Rangemaster purchased the assets of the bankrupt Navion Aircraft Company, including jigs, machine tools, and spare parts to support Ryan/North American Navion lightplanes. In 1973 production of the Navion Rangemaster restarted, the first aircraft flying late the following year. Consolidated Holding Incorporated acquired control of the company in 1975 and announced plans to manufacture the Rangemaster H at the rate of one per week.