A new US kit built single seat aircraft is said to provide 160mph performance on the Japanese built HKS 700E flat twin four-stroke engine, which is available in 60hp normally aspirated and 80hp turbo-charged form.

The LT-1 comes from aircraft speed modification company Aerochia, established by Reno Sport Class racer Darryl Greenamyer and aerodynamicist Andy Chiavetta, which has successfully enhanced the performance of Greenamyer’s Lancair Legacy such that it has taken him to four Reno National Championship victories. Greenamayer is also well known  for his racing and record setting achievements in F-104 Starfighter ‘Red Baron’, which he had to bail out of in 1978 when the undercarriage failed to lock down. He still holds the FAI Class C-1 Group III 3 km speed record of 988.26 mph, set in the Starfighter in October 1977.

A fully composite (mostly carbon-fibre) aircraft is just over 15ft long and has a span of 20ft 8in. Useful load is 283lbs for a MAUW of 783lbs. The 18 US gal fuel capacity should give the aircraft a duration of up to eight hours.

Projected price for what is claimed will be a quick and easy build kit is around $20,000, less engine, prop and instrumentation, meaning a well-equipped example will cost around $35,000.

The LT-1 is expected to make its debut at this year’s EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh. It is of course not LAA approved so cannot currently be built and flown in the UK. It remains to be seen whether a UK agent or potential builder will seek to progress the design through UK Approval. Unfortunately the traditionally limited appeal in the UK marketplace of single seat kit aircraft may preclude the type making it to these shores. www.aerochia.com