Fourth In A New Generation of High-Performance Kits Takes Flight

Before you know it, we'll be dealing with a 'composite overcast."

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That said, on Saturday Jeff Edwards flew his new Evolution for the first time.

Jeff and Shelby Edwards of Chesterfield, Missouri began the construction of their PT6 powered Evolution kit with their two week builder's assist program at the Lancair factory in May 2009 and then, assisted by Brian Harris (Composite Approach, Redmond, OR) brought it to Saturday's first flight in only 8 months.

Their Evolution passed its' FAA D.A.R. Airworthiness inspection in one day on the first try, approximately one week ago.

Final preparations for the first flight went smoothly and N818SJ took off Saturday from KRDM at 2:47pm. Jeff, a former Naval Flight Officer (A-6), accident investigator (Avsafe, LLC), and former Flight Instructor of the Year, reported no problems during the 30 minute first flight. 

After the flight, while thanking all who helped, he commented, "I'm overwhelmed! What an airplane. It exceeds every expectation." Jeff and Shelby are no strangers to building a Lancair as they took delivery of a Lancair IV-P kit in 1999 and in three years produced a beautiful, award winning aircraft. When completely finished, their Evolution is expected to be one as well.

The Lancair Evolution is a high performance, pressurized, all composite, four place owner built single available with either a Pratt& Whitney PT-6 Turboprop engine or a Lycoming TEO-540 iE2 electronically controlled piston engine.

FMI: www.lancair.com