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."

FMI: www.flycolumbia.com