Rick Titsworth

Lancair ES - N727RT

The Lancair ES is a four-place, fixed gear, composite structured kit plane. It was derived from the popular and sporty Lancair IV, (but with a fixed gear and somewhat larger/more docile wing). Likewise, the Columbia 350 & 400 (Certified Airplanes) are later descendants of the ES. I started this Lancair ES project in the Fall of 2005 and spent five weeks as the factory builder’s assist, working on the wings to get a jump start. The wings and control surfaces are now largely complete, but not body-worked. The fuselage kit is built from a top and bottom shell. I have pre-fit them together and installed the windows and door. However, I am working on the top and bottom separately and won’t bond them together until the plane is almost done (since it is easier to work on when it's “wide open”). It will be powered by a TCM TSIO-550 (350+ HP engine), and it will have a max/high cruise of nearly 250 KTS TAS @ 25,000 FT (expected normal/economy cruise of approx 210 KTS TAS @ 18,000 FT). With 125-GAL primary fuel tanks, + 25-GAL aux tanks, and a normal cruise fuel burn of 18 GPH (LOP), the useful range will be well over 1500 NM. When will it be done, you ask? Saturday, of course! It’s just a matter of "which Saturday" (LOL)! Stop by my on-line project notebook at http://www.N727RT.com for more background and/or to follow the progress.

Craig Sawka

Looks like a lot of work. Get 'er done!