First New Product Since Company Relocated To Texas

The first new product since the relocation of experimental aircraft pioneer Lancair International to Texas is the 4-place Mako. Just in time for "Shark Week", the Mako is now on display in the Lancair booth at AirVenture.

First flown on July 18, 2017, the Mako has now logged several dozen hours of flight time, and has met or exceeded all performance expectations. Fully instrumented flight testing will follow shortly after the close of the AirVenture show.

Providing an exceptional value for a 4-place composite aircraft, the new design features 25 improvements, including dual gullwing cabin doors, a first for a Lancair model. Newly designed low-drag "scimitar" wingtips incorporate lightweight LED lighting and, along with other aerodynamic refinements, adds 12 knots to the aircraft's cruise speed. Much of the increase is due to the optional retractable nosewheel's 'cleaning up' the turbulent slipstream behind the propeller. The nosegear is operated by a fully automatic retraction/extension system that requires no action by the pilot.

In another first for Lancair, the aircraft’s spacious 4-place cabin will feature enhanced control options. In addition to the (optional) right-side entry door, the Mako offers an optional center control stick, with throttles on both sidewalls, improving ergonomics and allowing piloting from either front seat. Other options include a new electric Freon air conditioning system, articulating seats and a ballistic parachute recovery system.

Optimizing airflow around and through the engine is essential to Mako’s performance goals. The engine cowling features an improved precision induction system and redesigned exhaust fairings with improved aerodynamics. A variety of engine options will be available, ranging from the standard 210 hp Continental IO-360 to a 350 hp turbocharged Lycoming TIO-580. Typical non-turbo cruise speeds are over 200 knots, with turbocharged models exceeding 225 knots.

Whether normally aspirated or turbocharged, Mako is designed to compete head-to-head with contemporary certified aircraft like the Cessna TTx, Cirrus SR-20 and SR-22. With its optimized aerodynamics, weight and power, Mako is projected to easily outperform both aircraft in climb rate, range and useful load. As of this writing, pricing is still being finalized but count on it being substantially lower than TTX/SR-20/22 pricing, likely in the neighborhood of 50% or more.

Lancair's renowned Builder Assist Program is available to help buyers rapidly advance their aircraft to completion. Conducted at our Uvalde, TX factory, the program allows new owners to completely close out critical airframe structures, providing fixtures, supplies and one-on-one training and support. A new Mako Flying Club option has also been created to support group construction and ownership for pilots in close geographic proximity.

(Source: Lancair news release. Images provided)

FMI: Lancair.com