One you build, the other you buy. Both have a long lineage. The Evolution is designed atop three-and-a-half decades of Lancair’s homebuilding experience. Piper’s M350 is a direct descendent of the original Malibu of the early 1980s.
Both are pressurized. Both are fast. While many pilots prefer the flexibility and customization of a homebuilt, others prefer the consistency of a production aircraft.
At first glance, a 210-pound heavier max takeoff weight and a 320-pound lighter empty weight don’t seem like much on the Evolution’s 4,550-pound airframe, but they sure add up when it comes to useful load and payload.
On the other side of the equation, I’m not sure I have the stamina to take on building an Evolution, even with help.
| AIRCRAFT | LANCAIR EVOLUTION | PIPER M350 |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 30 ft | 28.11 ft |
| Height | 10 ft | 11.4 ft |
| Wingspan | 37 ft | 43 ft |
| WEIGHT | ||
| Max Takeoff Weight | 4,550 lbs | 4,340 lbs |
| Empty Weight | 2,730 lbs | 3,050 lbs |
| Useful Load | 1,820 lbs | 1,308 lbs |
| Usable Fuel | 168 gal | 120 gal |
| Max Payload – Full Fuel | 800 lbs | 588 lbs |
| PERFORMANCE | ||
| Max Cruise Speed | 242 ktas | 213 ktas |
| POWERPLANT | ||
| Engine | Lyc. YTEO-540 iE2 | Lyc. TIO-540-AE2A |
| Horsepower | 350 | 350 |
| PRICE | $895,000 | $1,150,000 |
I know it’s not really a fair comparison — experimental vs. production — but both have pros and cons. What say you?
