Less than two years after Evolution Aircraft separated from the Lancair International brand, the company has shut its doors. When a manufacturer goes out of business, aircraft owners are generally left high and dry until the company’s assets are bought up by someone willing to take on the project and the liability that comes along with it. But the 85-plus Evolution owners have been afforded a solution.
Elite Pilot Services, a company out of Redmond that has provided test flights and flight training for Evolutions and other high performance airplanes, has stepped up to the plate to offer what EPS calls the Evolution Service Network. For $5,000 per year, ESN offers technical and maintenance advice and support 12 hours per day (6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST), seven days a week, as well as access to information through the EPS app 24/7. ESN will ensure parts availability and improvements, and facilitate communication with mechanics. A safety management system (SMS) is being implemented to track safety related events and share that knowledge with ESN members.
ESN will also provide AOG support, dedicating a representative to getting the issue resolved and returning the airplane to service. The membership also includes two days of recurrent training per year by an EPS instructor. Support for ferry flights and return to service flights is available at an additional cost.
Two versions of the Evolution were produced: a turboprop version with a PT6A engine and a piston version with a 350-hp Lycoming.
