I did a search on the IV-P and found a lot of discussion on Crash Talk. That tells me a lot but doesn't really scare me away from the idea of owning a IV-P at some point. It looks like an amazing machine.

For those of you that have flown them, what are your thoughts? Would you ever actually consider buying one? Are they maintenance intensive (vs a P210 or similar)?

Are there any in the PHX area to check out (aside from Performance One)? I'm NOT shopping and don't plan on buying one anytime soon, just looking for information.

I've been looking at that one on Courtesy Aircraft for about a month now.....tempting. I was wondering the same thing. Sure is nice and fast for the money.....

It's a fun airplane to fly and offers a lot of speed for the $. It's a hot airplane, but isn't bad to handle provided you don't fly it into a thunderstorm or get slow in the pattern.

Insurance is pretty ridiculous, even for liability-only.

Several years ago, a fellow in the hangar across from mine sold his TN Bonanza and got a Lancair. Had an extensive checkout with an experienced instructor - no cowboy. Seemed very happy with the plane but nervous when about to fly it.

Several months later he and his wife were killed in it; evidently picked up ice at a high altitude flying from Florida to the Northeast and augured in. Daytime in the summer.

No experience, but there's enough word out their for me to stay away. A hangar mate and an acquaintance were killed one, separate accidents. Both very experienced pilots.

See Doug Rozendaal's comments on page 2 of this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=75093&hilit=lancair+iv+p&start=15

Two of my best friends have them and fly them regularly.

If thoroughly and properly built, and you are thoroughly and properly trained in it, then there is nothing to fear, respect it, yes.


(this is stated with all due respect to those have perished in them, as well as the many great pilots who have died in our beloved Beech products as well)

My good friend flew one for a few years before he stepped up to a Cessna Mustang. Despite an open invitation (and life insurance that didn't cover flight in experimental aircraft) I never stepped foot in the plane despite the sirens sweet song. Just an incredible performance machine.

He almost perished with another friend and business associate in his last flight in the IV-P.

A moments inattention after a long week of work.....very few get second chances.

The experimental aircraft had far different handling than certified aircraft due to the FARs
No requirements for minimum stall,speeds, spin recovery, bob weights on the elevators, aileron interconnects with the rudder,etc
Many experimental aircraft may exceed the minimum FAR part 23 standards, so they are not inferior , just built different for a different mission
The FARs spell out these requirements to build in a safety margin for us regular pilots of certified aircraft
Some experimental pilots have the training to handle the really high performance aircraft like the Lancair
I had a friend with a Legacy that had a clean stall speed of over 90 knots, it was very fast but a handful to handle
The extra speed of the high performance experimental aircraft comes with less of a safety margin when they are flown like a certified aircraft ie without specialized training

If you're looking for one, and want to buy one, go up for a test flight and check out the CHTs. Bet you they will be pushing 440 in climb if not higher. That right there is all I ever waned to know about Lancair IV-P. Piston engine on the verge of explosion combined with glide characteristics of a space shuttle. This is David Morss flying it, most of us are not David Morss. Look at the angle required to maintain airspeed. All in all, perfectly executed maneuver, instant pitch up to stop the engine from tearing itself off the firewall, then instant pitch down for speed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0txEC0Rhdg

That it is indeed. You can insure 4X the hull insured value on a production SEL TP (Meridian, TBM etc) for the same annual hull premium that you will pay in a IVP turbine.

Exceptional piloting skills here. Not only a perfect landing - he followed the taxi lines off the runway.

Been around them for years, incredible airplane, I fear flying in one with a stopped engine.

I am what I think is a good pilot, and flying one of those w/o an engine terrifies me. In the Bonanza I have, if I lose an engine, I think I can handle it, speed wise, and put myself in a position to land it in a field, on water, whatever, at a slow enough speed to save my own life, and anyone in the plane. In a IVP, when you lose that engine, you have no choice but to be screaming along in a hopeful glide into whatever is under you at way over 110-120 MPH, 90 knots in one w/no power & it'll probably come out from under you.

Like Todd said, "most of us are not David Morss". Truer words not spoken.

The engine out would not really scare me. You leave the gear UP for any landing that is off-runway and the descent rates are still not good, but not horrible either. Once the gear comes down the descent rate gets ridiculous. I "glided" the Glasair down (with the short wing tips) with power off. You are looking at about 110 knots indicated to give you 1500-1700 FPM down. With the gear down you will be doing 2500+ FPM down.

It takes a better pilot to fly these machines. Most people should not fly them as they can get away from you quickly if you are not use to the speed at which things happen. Funny thing - 60 years ago the V-Tail Bonanza was considered a high performance killer with a high wing load and super slippery airframe that would get you in trouble quickly. Today, the Bonanza is like a 152 compared to truly high performance planes. It is all what you get use to and what your skill set can handle.

"A man has to know his own limitations" as noted by the famous philosopher Clint Eastwood