Lancair has resumed certification flight testing of derivatives of its Columbia 300 after restarting production of the all-composite four-seater last month. Production and certification work had been halted while the Bend, Oregon-based company arranged additional financing.
Certification of the "all-electric" Columbia 350 is expected next month. The aircraft is powered by the same 230kW (310hp) Teledyne Continental IO-550 as the Columbia 300, but with full-authority digital engine control and a dual-bus, dual-battery electrical system replacing the basic aircraft's dual vacuum pumps.
The Columbia 400 is a turbocharged version of the basic aircraft, expected to be capable of 230kt (425km/h) at 18,000ft (5,500m) initially, compared with the Columbia 300's 190kt, and 240kt at 24,000ft when certification work is complete. The specification twin-turbocharged TSIO-550 engine was installed in mid-March, with certification expected in July.
Lancair expects to certificate the Columbia 400 in two stages, clearing the turbocharged aircraft to the Columbia 300's 18,000ft ceiling initially, then extending approval to 24,000ft after completing additional flight tests - a process expected to take around two years. The company resumed deliveries in February against a backlog of over 170 Columbia 300, 350 and 400 orders.
Source: Flight International
