Evolution Aircraft
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Headquarters | Redmond, Oregon , United States |
Key people | Bob Wolstenholme (President and CEO) |
| Products | Light aircraft kits (Lancair Evolution) |
Number of employees | 49 (before reduction in 2017) |
The Evolution Aircraft Company is a U.S.-based aircraft manufacturer located in Redmond, Oregon. The firm focuses on the design and production of light aircraft kits intended for amateur builders.
The position of president and CEO is held by Bob Wolstenholme.
History
In July 2016, Lancair declared its intention to divest its older aircraft product lines to concentrate exclusively on the Lancair Evolution. According to Kevin Eldredge, Lancair's Director of Business Development, the Evolution was the sole design that remained viable in the marketplace, with ambitions to increase manufacturing output to one unit every two weeks. Revenue from parts support for previous models accounted for roughly 10% of total income.
Due to the intricate nature of the Evolution’s design, assembly necessitates specialized facilities rather than conventional home garage construction. This complexity prompted the decision to sell older model lines, thereby freeing up factory capacity for completing Evolution aircraft.
By February 2017, the assets and intellectual property rights associated with the older models were transferred to Mark and Conrad Huffstutler. Production was subsequently moved to Uvalde, Texas under the banner of Lancair International, LLC. The original company rebranded itself as Evolution Aircraft and maintained operations in Redmond.
On 5 October 2017, Evolution Aircraft announced a corporate restructuring that included reducing its workforce by 22 employees out of 49. Kevin Eldredge stepped down as president and CEO, with Bob Wolstenholme appointed as his successor. Following a fatal incident, the company encountered difficulties in securing product liability insurance. Although reports emerged in October 2017 suggesting that operations had ceased, local sources confirmed that the company was still functioning while actively searching for a buyer.
By late October 2017, Evolution Aircraft was officially listed for sale amid ongoing challenges linked to insurance complications after notable accidents. In November 2017, the company indicated it was operating on a limited scale to meet existing customer obligations while pursuing potential investors.