Evolution Piston

The Lycoming powered Evolution is a culmination of over 35 years of kit building experience to provide a balance of performance, comfort, and efficiency that is not offered in any other kit or certified personal aircraft.

Capable of carrying 4 adults in pressurized comfort for over 1800 nautical miles is only the beginning of features offered by this wonderful aircraft.

Imagine no more cannulas in your nose just to get over the weather, or fussing with the kids and O2 masks while you try and climb over the turbulence. The piston powered Evolution is the same kit as our proven Turbine version so you can rest assured that the airframe can handle anything you might encounter.

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EVOP-350 Specifications

ICAO DesignatorEVOP

Length30 ft

Height10 ft

Wingspan37 ft

Seating4

Cargo Volume39 cu ft

Baggage Capacity225 lbs

Fuel Capacity168 gal

Payload (up to)²720 lbs

Max T/O Weight4550 lbs

Design Empty Weight²2650 lbs

Vne (all KIAS)256

Va190

Vno76-220

Vc220-256

Vfe160

Vle165

Vso61

Vs76

EngineYTEO-540-iE2

Horsepower350 hp

PropellerMT-3 bladed Prop

Min T/O Distance1450 ft

Min Ldg Distance1650 ft

Initial Rate of Climb1500 fpm

Max Cruise (max @ 24,000)230 KTAS

Range³1380 NM

Fuel Burn23 gph

Economy Cruise215 KTAS

Range³1667 NM

Fuel Burn18 gph

Max Operating Alt⁴25,000'

¹ with EEAPS, ² without EEAPS, ³ with IFR/Reserve, ⁴ RVSM Limited

Evolution and Piston Power

It would have been fairly simple to select an “off the shelf” 300+ hp piston engine to power the lightweight and aerodynamic Evolution airframe. But Evolution Aircraft is not an “off the shelf” kind of company. It is our philosophy to deliver better than what you can just find on the shelf in the Performance and Innovation aisle. Evolution Aircraft always wants to do better than that. So, when Lycoming began the development of a next generation piston engine with the iE2, Evolution Aircraft was eager to pair up with Lycoming on the development process. Along the way, this engine has matured, improved and in fact, even found its way into Military Service. Often, military programs spur further development of great ideas and the iE2 powered Evolution is no exception. In fact, it is a beneficiary of the collaboration of Northrop Grumman and Lycoming to further the development of the iE2 engine for military use. The Firebird is an “optionally piloted” surveillance aircraft developed by Northrop Grumman and is equipped with a pusher version of the TEO-540 iE2 engine. Evolution Aircraft was the original test bed for this engine and it was then adopted for use in the military's Firebird. The rigorous testing of the concept and the harsh operational environment of the Firebird is testament to Lycoming’s dedication and Evolution Aircraft’s faith in the iE2 Concept. Evolution Aircraft innovation and high performance coupled with Lycoming’s rugged, reliable power are now yours in the Piston Powered Evolution.

Piston Performance

The iE2 is the latest “state of the art” in Aircraft Piston Engines. Lycoming has a long history of rugged, powerful, and efficient piston engines and the IO 540 series is legend. The primary area of aircraft piston engine design that has lagged behind in the development cycle was in the technology of fuel and ignition control. The iE2 brings the traditional aircraft piston engine into the 21st Century with computer controlled electronic fuel injection, electronic ignition, and electronic engine self-protection. Power management is simple with one lever controlling the percentage of power desired, prop pitch, and fuel flow. The engine will always determine the most efficient combination of fuel mixture, ignition timing, turbo boost and propeller RPM for the flight condition you request. It will do that while determining optimum settings without hazardous fuel mixtures or ignition timing, and will avoid overheating or detonation without pilot intervention or the need to monitor the factors that cause these conditions. You do not need to monitor those parameters in your automobile, why should you need to in your aircraft? You shouldn’t. And now, with the iE2, you don’t have to.

Make no mistake, the iE2 technology is not an “experiment”. It is a certified aircraft engine, now available to you for use on your Evolution.

The Building experience

The concept of “building your own airplane” can certainly sound daunting or prohibitive. But it absolutely is not. When done The Evolution Aircraft Way, it is fun and is often described as one of the greatest, most rewarding experiences of a pilot’s life. The process is governed by the FAA, of course and is described in an Advisory Circular (AC 20-27G). This is a clear-cut process that is easily followed. There is much that does not require your involvement or presence and you do not need any specific technical experience. You can have a partner or partners in your process, you can legally employ professional assistance, and most owners do just that. Over the course of the construction of your aircraft, your presence and involvement will be required for as little as a total 200 to 250 hours. The professional assistance centers that will help you have helped dozens or tens of dozens of builders turn out incredibly beautiful, safe aircraft and they will guide you through every detail of the process. The look and feel of your aircraft will be unmistakably yours. You built an Airplane!

AVIONICS

Let’s face it today’s Avionics are not just “The instruments”. Every state of the art “Glass Panel” is really a complete Aircraft and Flight Management System (FMS). Evolution Aircraft is very proud of our relationship with Garmin, the leading worldwide GA aircraft Avionics supplier, and the Evolution panels are exclusively Garmin based.

The Turbine Evolution is a G900X suite, which includes the renowned GFC7X Autopilot. This is essentially the G1000 system without the certifications required for use in a Part 23 Certified aircraft and Evolution Aircraft is the only experimental category aircraft granted use of that GFC700 Autopilot. The piston powered Evolution is a G3X Touch” system which is designed exclusively for the Experimental market. The G900X with GFC700 is optional on the Piston. These panels include and provide for the operation of every function required for full IFR flight, traffic and terrain avoidance, communications, engine monitoring, aircraft pressurization, and environmental needs. They are provided prewired and “Plug and Play” to mate with the provided airframe wiring harness.