Overview of Private Plane Manufacturers Cirrus

16 June 2010

Before the economic downturn of 2008 put on a damper on any visions of futuristic taxi-like air travel, Cirrus Design was well on their way to becoming one of the most successful small aircraft design companies on the planet.

They’re still a popular aircraft manufacturer today, and they’re continuing to push toward a future where light aircraft are far more commonplace in the skies.

Cirrus Design is located in Duluth, Minnesota. They’re strong employers in a region that desperately needs it. The Northern United States was all but abandoned by auto manufacturers, so the 1,300 people employed by Cirrus are a blessing to the entire community. There are also manufacturing facilities in North Dakota, the Isle of Wight, England, and in Brisbane, Australia.

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Lancair International Inc - Pioneers of the homebuilt kitplane

09 November 2009

Founded in 1981, Lancair International Inc. is a manufacturer of aviation aircraft kits based out of Redmond, Oregon in the United States. Overall, the brand offers a relatively wide selection of kitplanes to choose from, but they’re most well-known for their high-performance single-engine airplane.

Modern ingenuity allows Lancair’s single-engine to easily cruise at speeds faster than most twin-engine designs. What sets Lancair apart from other aviation manufacturers is that their composite materials used in their line of kitplanes makes their craft lightweight, very strong, fast and, most importantly, affordable. For these reasons, Lancair is one of the biggest names in the world in terms of aircraft kits.

Lance Neibauer founded Lancair in 1981. It started with a clear, streamlined purpose: to produce composite aircraft kits for the homebuilder to enjoy. Although kitplanes are legitimate airplanes that require licensed pilots and all the training you’d expect for other planes, their small, compact design make them a favorite of solo flyers and hobbyists all over the globe.

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