The Lancair Company has revealed that the turbocharged Columbia 400 is on schedule for certification in March of 2004 and the company expects to begin delivering aircraft later that same month.

Lancair began flying its flight test prototype aircraft again on October 20th and now says that they are back to the point they were at when their first flight test aircraft was lost back in August.

“We are now about to transition from company flight testing to testing for certification credit,” said Lancair Vice President Tom Bowen who is heading up the certification program.

“We are at the point where we are done making aerodynamic modifications to the aircraft and are now just proving what we’ve done so we can achieve certification.”

The Lancair Company is also proceeding with a new conforming flight test aircraft to replace the one lost in the August accident. That aircraft is expected to begin flying in late November.

In addition to flight testing progress, Lancair has submitted the Columbia 400’s drawing package to the FAA for evaluation and sign off. The company has also nearly completed the production tooling for the
aircraft in preparation for serial manufacturing once the model receives final certification.

“The accident was a delay, no doubt about it. Fortunately, however, it wasn’t the result of a problem with the aircraft and we were able to get the program back up to speed pretty rapidly,” Bowen continued.

Apparently, the certification program isn’t the only thing moving swiftly. It seems that flight test data are indicating that the Columbia 400 will be the fastest certified piston-powered aircraft on the market once the certification program is complete.

“We’re not at a point where we want to release official numbers yet, but we feel confident that the Columbia 400 will be faster than any current certified piston-powered aircraft on the market – fixed gear or retractable, single engine or twin,” Bowen said. “The aircraft has an amazingly broad flight envelope.”

Founded in 1995, The Lancair Company manufactures the Columbia line of all-composite, high performance certified aircraft. Based in Bend, Oregon, the company is currently delivering the all-electric, normally aspirated Columbia 350.

FMI: www.lancair.com