Vickers Unveils All-Carbon FAST4 Four-Seat Aircraft

The single-engine piston aircraft is designed for IFR flight and planned for U.S. production alongside the WAVE.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Performance Vehicles

Sleek white carbon-composite single-engine light aircraft with partly folded wings parked on a concrete apron beneath open sky. — Vickers Aircraft USA unveiled the all-carbon-fiber four-seat FAST4 single-engine piston aircraft, planned for U.S. production alongside the WAVE. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Vickers Aircraft USA unveiled the FAST4, an all-carbon-fiber, four-seat single-engine piston aircraft. The FAST4 builds on more than a decade of composite development from the WAVE Light-Sport Aircraft.

Why it matters

The aircraft combines folding wings, an integrated airframe recovery parachute and provisions for Garmin Autoland, features aimed at easing storage and safety for owners. Planned U.S. production could expand domestic manufacturing of composite general aviation aircraft.

The FAST4 has a targeted maximum cruise speed of 235 KTAS and a 1,520-pound useful load with 102 gallons of fuel capacity. Its range of 1,300 nautical miles with four adults and full fuel is a manufacturer target, and certification has not been reported.

The players

Vickers Aircraft USA

Vickers Aircraft USA is the company that unveiled the FAST4 and plans to produce it in the United States.

FAA

The Federal Aviation Administration is the U.S. agency whose MOSAIC regulatory framework Vickers plans to use for certification.

The details

The FAST4 is a low-wing aircraft that uses advanced manufacturing processes intended to reduce build time and production expenses. Vickers plans to use the FAA MOSAIC regulatory framework to streamline certification and production timelines.

Production at an upcoming U.S. manufacturing facility is planned alongside the WAVE, with no specific date given.

Roadmap

Vickers is pursuing light-aircraft certification through the FAA's MOSAIC framework rather than the traditional path, which could shorten timelines for new composite designs. The FAST4 extends the composite development behind the WAVE Light-Sport Aircraft into a four-seat piston model.

Owners who need to store an aircraft in a limited hangar may benefit from the folding wings, which are designed to halve required floor space. Pilots flying under IFR conditions would have a four-seat option, though pricing and availability have not been announced.

The takeaway

Lighter composite aircraft with built-in safety systems are gaining ground in general aviation, and buyers should watch for certification progress and final specifications before weighing a purchase. Planned U.S. production may affect future availability.