Lancair Es

Single Piston

The Lancair ES represents the pinnacle of homebuilt performance aviation, a sleek composite four-seater that routinely cruises faster than many certified light twins while burning a fraction of the fuel. Designed by Lance Neibauer in the late 1990s as an evolution of the earlier Lancair IV, the ES (Evolution Speedster) trades some of the IV's extreme speed for improved docility and a more forgiving wing, making it accessible to a broader range of builders and pilots. Powered typically by a Continental IO-550 producing 310 horsepower, the ES achieves cruise speeds around 200 knots true airspeed at altitude, with a range exceeding 1,000 nautical miles and a service ceiling above 25,000 feet — performance that rivals or exceeds many pressurized singles costing several times as much. The aircraft's all-composite construction keeps empty weight around 2,000 pounds despite its size, and its retractable landing gear and constant-speed propeller contribute to its impressive efficiency. As an experimental amateur-built aircraft, the ES demands meticulous construction and disciplined flying — its clean aerodynamics and relatively high wing loading mean energy management is critical, and the type has earned a reputation for punishing inattention on approach. SkyMeter has tracked 10 flights across 4 airframes and 4 operators, with MACK AVIATION LLC the largest observed operator.