Evolution Aircraft Turbine Evolution

Single Turboprop

The Evolution Turbine is a pressurized single-engine turboprop that occupies a rare niche in general aviation: a high-performance kit aircraft capable of flight levels typically reserved for certified twins and light jets. Built by Evolution Aircraft of Bend, Oregon, the type first flew in 2008 and entered the experimental amateur-built market as one of the few turbine-powered homebuilts offering full pressurization and known-ice capability. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-135A producing 750 shaft horsepower, the Evolution cruises at 300 knots true airspeed and climbs directly to FL280, where it can maintain cabin altitudes below 8,000 feet. The composite airframe seats five in a spacious cabin and offers a range exceeding 1,200 nautical miles, making it a genuine cross-country machine that competes on speed and altitude with factory-built turboprops costing several times more. Its kit construction allows owners to build under FAA experimental rules, significantly reducing acquisition costs while delivering near-certified performance. The type has found favor with owner-pilots seeking turbine efficiency without the operating costs of a King Air or TBM, and its ramp presence (sleek, low-wing, and unmistakably fast) reflects its mission as a serious traveling aircraft. SkyMeter has tracked 33 flights across 13 airframes and 13 operators, with KCI COMPUTING INC the largest observed operator.