Deliveries of the All-Electric Columbia to Begin Immediately

Just days after receiving Canadian certification for the Lancair Columbia 300, Lancair secured its second FAA type approval, certifying the all-electric, dual-bus Lancair Columbia 350.

The Columbia 350 is a normally-aspirated, 310 hp, fixed gear aircraft based on Lancair's Columbia 300.  Most significant of the several differences between the Columbia 300 and 350 is the replacement of traditional vacuum systems with a fully redundant, dual-bus, dual-battery, dual-alternator electrical system that improves reliability and increases the aircraft's ability to incorporate the state-of-the-art avionics currently being developed for personal aircraft.

Glass Panel

The first evidence of this increased capability to handle cutting-edge avionics is the dual flat panel displays of the Avidyne FlightMax Entegra panel offered as an option on all Columbia 350s.

"Most of the differences between the Columbia 300 and Columbia 350 are beneath the skin and not immediately apparent to the casual observer," said Lancair Vice President of Sales & Marketing Mark Cahill.  "The dual-bus electrical system provides a robust and totally redundant electrical system that allows the elimination of traditional vacuum systems.  It also gives us the opportunity to incorporate the current and future electronic pilot aids that our customers want to add.

Better Air In The Air

In addition to the new electrical system, the Columbia 350 also incorporates other improvements.  These include an improved heating and ventilation system that delivers nearly twice the volume of air to the cabin as the previous system.  The Columbia 350 also incorporates new interior components improving fit and finish, and provisions for future options like deice and air conditioning systems. 

"The Columbia 350 is the basis for all future Lancair Columbia models," Cahill continued.  "The alterations we've made to create the Columbia 350 will also be carried into the upcoming Columbia 400 turbocharged aircraft.  These changes make what we and our customers consider a great aircraft even better."

Lancair 400 On Track

ANN spoke to Lancair's affable VP, Ron Wright, who managed to get in a few comments before getting back to his full-time job... building lots of Lancairs. Ron notes that they hope to be delivering 350s "by Mid-July," and that "we have 350s on the production line already and we're looking forward to putting them in buyer's hands in only a few more weeks." On the subject of the Lancair 400, Ron echoed our sentiments that the long-awaited turbo-charged 400 could turn out to be Lancair's future sales leader, "Interest is so very high... and now that we have the alternator issue behind us (which delayed the 350 certification by several weeks), we're making excellent progress toward certifying this airplane and (hopefully) putting them in buyer's hands by the middle of December of this year."

FMI: www.lancair.com