Mon, Jan 18, 2010
As composite structures began to emerge in the late 1970s, Lance
Neibauer’s aviation interest went from hobby to inspiration;
having graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design, Neibauer believed he
could develop a sleekly designed aircraft that optimized both
performance and handling.
The resulting Lancair 200 made its aviation debut in 1984,
premiering for Oshkosh attendees the following year. Achieving 167
knots speed and 2.5 mph per horsepower, the aircraft revolutionized
the homebuilt market, offering pilots more performance, freedom,
and value than anything previously seen. The prototype
exhibited such advancement that it is now displayed at the
Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Museum in Oshkosh,
WI. Neibauer, inundated by market interest, quit his job as a
graphic designer and started his first aircraft company.
The Lancair team became synonymous with innovative aircraft,
including the Lancair 320/360, whose unprecedented design and
beauty earned a display place at the New York Metropolitan Museum
of Art. In 1993, Neibauer launched Pacific Aviation
Composites USA (later renamed ‘Columbia Aircraft’),
eventually developing the type-certificated, piston single-engine
Columbia 300.
In February of 2003, Neibauer announced the sale of his kit
company to Joseph Bartels. Since the sale, Bartels has led the
company forward with Neibauer’s legacy, developing the new
Lancair Evolution. Developed with the latest computer
technology, the Evolution is designed to FAR part 23
compliancy. Powered by the Pratt & Whitney PT6 engine,
the Lancair Evolution can reach speeds of more than 385 miles per
hour. In addition, the aircraft includes numerous safety
features such as the BRS Ballistic recovery parachute and AmSafe
Aviation airbag seatbelts.
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