Also Announces "300 Knot Club"
Columbia Aircraft announced Tuesday at AirVenture 2007 it
delivered 55 new Columbia 350 and 400 aircraft in the second
quarter of 2007, more than double the number delivered during the
same period in 2006. While the Columbia's 2007 delivery pace is
ahead of the figures posted in 2006, company officials caution that
comparing 2006 to 2007 can lead to misconceptions.
"Early 2006 was very challenging for us and our second quarter
deliveries in particular were severely hampered by a freak hail
storm that delayed delivery of a 66 aircraft," said Columbia
President and CEO Wan Majid. "That said, our deliveries are right
on plan for 2007, and sales demand has been strong through the
first half of the year. I'm very pleased with where we are at this
moment."
Despite Columbia's first half challenges in 2006, Majid points
out that the company rebounded strongly in the second half of the
year to deliver a total of 185 aircraft, a record that Columbia
expects to better this year.
In another announcement from the Columbia, the company plans to
honor customers who can document ground speeds in excess of 300
knots in straight and level flight.
"Our customers crave speed," explained Columbia Vice President
of Marketing & Sales Randy S. Bolinger, "so we conceived the
300 Knot Club as a way to recognize those who have seen what very
few piston drivers have - an airspeed indication that begins with
the number 3."
Membership in the 300 Knot Club is open to any Columbia owner who
submits a photograph of the aircraft's Multi-Function Display
indicating 300 knots ground speed or more in straight and level
flight, and submits a brief story to accompany their photo for the
Columbia website.
In return, members will receive a set of graphics for their
aircraft cowl, a jacket/flight bag patch, an official membership
certificate and their name added to a permanent member registry at
Columbia's Bend, OR headquarters. New 300 Knot Club members will be
inducted into this elite club at major tradeshows and events.
"We're excited to kick off this new program," Bolinger said.
"The Columbia 400 was purpose-built around a 310 horsepower
twin-turbocharged powerplant to fly safely at FL250. It can manage
the extreme heat of two superchargers and has been spin tested at
the fringes of the design envelope for proven safety.
"We've never modified or allowed the 400 to be modified to do
anything that we as the OEM didn't originally test and certify,"
Bolinger added. "The 300 Knot Club is a celebration of what is
arguably the World's Fasted Certified Piston Single and we're
willing to go head-to-head on paper or in the air with any
production aircraft in our class to prove it."