Reports Orders Up "More Than 200%" Over '05

"Neither red tape nor Mother Nature could hold Columbia Aircraft back in 2006."

It is with this phrase Columbia Aircraft opened its announcement to ANN Wednesday that despite delays early in the year certifying its Garmin G1000 glass panel option -- and a subsequent, freak hailstorm that necessitated the refinishing of more than 60 aircraft awaiting customer delivery --  Columbia Aircraft still managed to deliver a record 185 aircraft for the year.

"No doubt, we endured more than our fair share of challenges in the first half of 2006," said Columbia Vice President of Marketing and Business Development Randy S. Bolinger. "I’d like to thank our customers for their patience and our manufacturing staff for their perseverance in helping us rebound to a record delivery year."

The 185 deliveries eclipsed the previous record of 114 aircraft set in 2005. In all, the Company delivered 146 Columbia 400s and 39 Columbia 350s. Columbia also set a new mark for orders in 2006. Though the company doesn’t publish sales figures, officials told ANN orders were up more than 200% over the previous year.

"On balance, 2006 turned out to be a very good year," Bolinger (pictured below) said. "We expect to build on our second half momentum going into 2007 and set new records for deliveries and sales in 2007."

Columbia manufactures a variety of all-composite aircraft including the Columbia 400 -- arguably the world’s fastest certified piston-single. The Columbia 350, 350i, 350SL and 350SLX are normally-aspirated, four-place aircraft with a cruise speed of 191 knots. The Columbia 400, 400i, 400SL and 400SLX are intercooled, twin-turbocharged, four-place aircraft certified to FL250 with a cruise speed of 235 knots.

In addition to providing impressive performance, both models are known for their high level of standard equipment, quality and safety features, including dual electrical systems, dual wing spars and Utility Category certification.

FMI: www.flycolumbia.com