Lancair Live!

So I have the slow model, the ES. However, I had a work issue where I had to go from Phoenix to Vegas and get there quickly. I jumped in my ES and landed at Henderson Executive 1.3 hrs later. It makes me smile every time I can do things like this using our planes.

What are your magic carpet moments?

-Ryan
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Yeah man!!!!


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Here are two MCRs. I also have the slow poke, the ES. (Cessna drivers, Bonanza drivers are laughing at that terminology.)

First one: TRK (Truckee, CA) to MRY (Monterrey, CA) where we have a small 2nd home. Currently showing 1:02, over the sierras and over the valley to Monterey Bay. Via car? ~5 hrs depending on traffic on I80 etc., with SUVs tailgating at 75-80 mph. Which wins on speed? Which wins on stress? Which wins on fun? Very nice FBO in at MRY.

Second one: TRK (Truckee, CA) to UBE (Cumberland, WI) where the folks live. Cumberland's a real roaring metropolis in the middle of farm country in Northern WI with a super nice airport manager. He'll get you hangar at a price you wont believe. And there's a Cirrus maintenance center there, which means lots of IO550 knowledge. It's 1298 nautical miles direct, and I've flown there twice without stopping in ~7 hours at ~11 gph with a westerly tailwind (and that red bottle we're all familiar with). That may sound like a long trip, and it is, but consider that commercial to Cumberland is usually about 12.5 hrs: ~8 hrs in the itinerary from Reno to Duluth or Minneapolis almost always with a stop; an hour and a half on the departure end getting to the airport and queuing; and 2 1/2 on the other end obtaining a rental car and driving. Despite the length, it's a really easy choice given the quality of the autopilot, Sirius XM, Audio books, the ease with which these things allow continuous contact with ATC, the peace of being in the Lancair somewhere between 9000 and 18,000 feet (built in O2), and the flexibility. And if I want to stop and take in the west in Utah, Wyoming, or Colorado, which I often do,or stop off to see one of the sisters in Northern or Southern, MN, easy peasy. Need to pay attention to weather and be flexible, although on that issue, there have been days when hundreds of flights have been cancelled in the midwest and I got in without stress. You have a lot more flexibility than the commercial folks.

Love my Lancair ES, my magic carpet, even if I'm slower than the folks with the rocket ships.

Dan, both great examples of the magic carpet!

Well when you own your own plane and work on it there’s something to be said for simplicity: non pressurized, non turbo and fixed gear. All those limitations and if it fits it flies with a decent cross country speed.


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George Wehrung wrote: ↑Thu Aug 24, 2023 4:57 pm Well when you own your own plane and work on it there’s something to be said for simplicity: non pressurized, non turbo and fixed gear. All those limitations and if it fits it flies with a decent cross country speed.


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I sometimes just say to myself "really?" when I realize I built the darn thing. And it wasn't rocket science. Learn to do good bonds, follow the excellent manuals, and engage with the community. These ships are way simpler than a modern car, maybe more like a 60s roadster or something (I dunno, I'm actually not a car guy). But as fixed gear four place load hauling airplanes, they out-perform any other fixed gear four place airplanes by a mile. I'm pretty sure that's correct, anyone know otherwise? I don't think so. 1298 nm with no stop at 185 kts grd speed with a 10 kt tail wind in < 7 hrs with a normally aspirated fixed gear airplane. What other fixed gear airplanes can do that? As far as I know, only the Columbia 350 derived from the ES (close) and Cirrus SR22 (less close) come "close," but no cigar. And my hour trips to Monterey Bay are so much nicer than driving on I80.... Smiles.

I don't know what the UL on a 350 is, but the SR22 doesn't have the UL an ES does. I flew a couple 22Ts that had around 800# which makes it a 2-person, couple bags, and gas kind of plane.

I've fit snowboards, skis, mountain bikes, myself (slept in the back) on a wx divert, tons of bags, tools, shelving, shop vac, etc in the back. It has a deceptively large cargo area.

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You slept in the back Ryan?! That’s cool.


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George Wehrung wrote: ↑Fri Aug 25, 2023 2:52 am You slept in the back Ryan?! That’s cool.

Jorge, you bet! A storm front kept me from getting home and it was late so I landed at a regional airport late and got a few hrs of sleep in the back. My seats fold flat, which worked great for me.

Another magic carpet moment. Flew to a fighter squadron reunion in Utah. Weather was great flying back to AZ, so we flew the special Grand Canyon VFR procedure. Awesome scenery. GProvo, UT back to Glendale, AZ in 2:20, flying LOP.

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