Kit/Plan Suggestions

[jabodine]

I would really like to build a fast, two place, side by side craft with tapered wings and retractable gear. Good range and luggage a must. Any suggestions. Best regards, Jonathan Bodine

[Todd copeland]

That's easy. Glasair.

[Auburntsts]

Pretty limited field based upon your stated parameters, but off the top of my head:

Kit:
Glasair Super II-RG
Glasair III
Lancair Legacy
Lancair IV

Plans/Kit:
Falco

[Chris In Marshfield]

GP-4 is another fast, plans-built option:

http://www.ospreyaircraft.com/

~Chris

[martymayes]

A KR-2.

Your criteria really leaves the field wide open.

[Anymouse]

I would really like to build a fast, two place, side by side craft with tapered wings and retractable gear. Good range and luggage a must. Any suggestions. Best regards, Jonathan Bodine

Not tapered wings, and not retractable, but my Tango will do 180 KTAS and carry two full size suitcases, along with two carry on size bags.

http://www.teamtangoaircraft.com

[VansRV4ator]

I was about to suggest an RV-7 or an RV-9 from Vans Aircraft until I read that you wanted a retractable gear. With all the choices given, I would think a Glasair would be your best bet. Lancair kits are way to pricey.

[Victor Bravo]

Cozy (forgot the designer's name)

On the rarer side of the spectrum... and with no consideration for current availability of plans, or ease of construction, or number of completed versions...

Buethe Barracuda (Geoff Siers)
Celerity (Larry Burton)
Brokaw Bullet (Dr. ___ Brokaw)
There have been Mustang II's built with retracts if I recall (Robert Bushby)
Questair Venture (forgot his name but he designed the Piper Malibu)
Prowler (no idea of designer... Morse??)
Cvjetkovic CA-65 (Anton Cvjetkovic)
Turner T-40 (Gene Turner)

If you modernized the old Polliwagen design using the modern carbon rod spar system and made sure your control surfaces were balanced for the extra speed, you might put an O-320 in a Polliwagen and go fast.

But, to be completely honest, you ought to stick to the handful of designs that have proven to be successful and safe and a lot of them successfully built and flown.

In order for any of us to give you some truly useful advice, you should probably tell us what materials you are comfortable working with, and what you consider fast enough, range enough, and acceptable cost.

[ProwlerD]

Tapered wing, retractable gear but tandem seating RV-8 style. The Prowler aircraft is still out there with several examples flying. Airframes and some NOS kits are available with support. www.prowleraviation.com (http://www.prowleraviation.com)

FYI

[cluttonfred]

Lots of good options already, and even though I personally don't see the point of retractable gear for anything under about 200 mph, there is always a need for more beauty in the world, so by all means build a Falco! If you want something with a French rather than Italian accent, take a look at Marcel Jurca's MJ.53 Autan (though his tandem-seaters are prettier, especially the MJ.51 Sperocco):

http://www.marcel-jurca.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=160&Itemid=213&lang=en
http://www.marcel-jurca.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13&Itemid=206&lang=en

[crusty old aviator]

The red, white, and blue demonstrator of the Prowler Jaguar is for sale for $30K on Barnstormers, in "Projects" She needs a little TLC to get back in the air, but she's a LOT of beautiful airplane for $30K.