The turbocharged Lancair Columbia 400 is designed to climb up through the clouds to the flight levels where it can stretch its legs and cover distance. Beginning next fall, Lancair Columbias will have the ice protection owners want to realize the aircraft's capabilities.

The Lancair Company officially announced today that it is pursuing certification of the revolutionary ThermaWing™ thermoelectric deicing system for its Columbia line of certified aircraft and will display the system on Columbia 400 prototype N143LC next week at Lakeland.

Lancair anticipates completing "anti-ice" certification on the Columbia 400 in time to offer it on its earliest deliveries of the aircraft this fall. Certification of the normally aspirated Columbia 350 will follow shortly thereafter.

Developed and manufactured by Northcoast Technologies of Chardon, Ohio, ThermaWing employs a laminate tape of flexible, expanded graphite between an outer, heat conducting, layer and an electrically insulating inner layer. The tape is heated by electricity generated by an increased capacity alternator specified for the installation. De-ice and anti-ice is performed by a patented system that cycles and rapidly transfers power to multiple sections of the tape. This tape is bonded to the leading edge surface of the Columbia's wings and horizontal stabilizer.
Propeller deice will be handled with a heated prop. There will be a removable window plate available as an option.

"We're not only pleased to improve the utility of the aircraft with de-ice protection, we are excited to lead the industry in introducing a much improved technology," said Lancair Vice President of Sales and Marketing Mark Cahill. "ThermaWing reduces pilot workload and increases the safety margin of the aircraft in inclement weather while not negatively impacting its performance when the sky is clear."

ThermaWing™ has a long association with Lancair aircraft - the Columbia's wing has been used in NASA ice tunnel tests during the past four years during the product's development. Final pricing for installations on new aircraft and possible retrofits to existing aircraft has not yet been confirmed. Based in Bend, Oregon, The Lancair Company manufactures the Lancair Columbia line of certified, high performance, composite aircraft.

FMI: www.lancair.com/certified, http://www.airplanedeice.com