Lancair Offering Even Cooler Columbias By End Of AirVenture

The Lancair Company is in the final stages of gaining FAA sign off on a new cabin climate management system for the Lancair Columbia 350 and upcoming, turbocharged Columbia 400 certified aircraft and expects to have the process completed by August 1st (today!).

“This is much more than just the air conditioning piston-powered aircraft pilots are used to,” said Lancair Vice President of Strategic Projects Tom Bowen. “It’s a complete, automatic cabin climate management system similar to what you find in today’s luxury automobiles. You just set a desired cabin temperature and the electronics do the rest.”

Hot air from the system comes from a traditional engine heat exchanger while the air conditioning originates from a belt-driven compressor. Conditioned air is passed through a fan-cooled condenser located in the tail cone and then finally fan-fed through an evaporator that supplies air to a flood duct for rapid cabin cooling even on the hottest days. Precise airflow control is also possible through individual service ducts throughout the cabin and temperature control is handled through a digital touch pad on the control panel.

“I believe that this is the first application of such a sophisticated climate control system in a pistonpowered aircraft,” Bowen said. “People who drive to the airport in their Lexus or BMW will feel right at home in the cabin of the Columbia 350 or 400.”

The automatic cabin climate management system will be certified for both take off and landing as well as cruise and will be an option on all new Columbia 300s and 400s. According to Bowen, Lancair is also evaluating the possibility of a retrofit kit to Lancair Columbia 300s already in service.

FMI: www.lancair.com/certified