Lancair Tigress

The Lancair Tigress, introduced in the late 1990s by the American kit‑plane manufacturer Lancair, represents the pinnacle of the company’s composite, high‑performance, single‑engine designs. Development began in 1996 as a derivative of the successful Lancair 320/360 series, with the goal of delivering a five‑seat, pressurized aircraft capable of cruising above 25 000 feet at speeds exceeding 280 kt. The Tigress featured an all‑carbon‑fiber airframe, a low‑drag laminar‑flow wing with a 28‑foot span, and a powerful 300‑horsepower Lycoming TIO‑540‑A2A engine driving a constant‑speed propeller. Advanced avionics, including a glass cockpit and autopilot, complemented its sleek, aerodynamic profile, while the optional pressurization system allowed comfortable high‑altitude operation.

Although only a handful of kits were completed before production ceased in 2002 due to market conditions and the company’s shift toward the Lancair Evolution, the Tigress left a lasting impression on the home‑built community. It demonstrated that a kit‑built airplane could rival certified business aircraft in speed, altitude capability, and comfort, influencing subsequent composite designs and reinforcing Lancair’s reputation for engineering excellence in general aviation. With a cruise of 265 knots at 24,000 feet and a range of over 1,500 nautical miles, the Tigress set performance benchmarks for kit aircraft, inspiring pilots to pursue home builds.