2014 Lancair Super Legacy CG Expansion – Mojave, CA
The Super Legacy is a modification of the Lancair Legacy carbon fiber kit aircraft, installing a TSIO- 550 rated at 300 HP. One of the modifications was to provide a larger operating CG envelope for auxiliary fuel tanks in the baggage compartment. These flights expanded the CG 1.3 inches aft of the factory limit of 93.8 to 95.1 inches, clearing aux tank operation. This testing also cleared the flight envelope beyond maximum Continental power limits to a max turbocharger boost of 40 inHG MAP. These power settings are achieved by independently controlling the waste-gates on the twin turbochargers, pneumatically closing the gates thereby increasing manifold pressure. These higher power settings also allowed testing the airframe to a max Mach of 0.43 at FL230. The test program was presented to the 2015 Society of Experimental Test Pilots West Coast Symposium.
2011 Electric Ultraflight Lazair Seaplane – Keuka Lake, NY
The Ultraflight Lazair is a Canadian designed kit manufactured from 1979-1984. These flights were performed on an airframe configured for flight off water; with twin Joby electric motors installed in place of the 5.5 hp chainsaw engines. Flight test included best power for max endurance, and ridge soaring technique.