Great Machines: Aircraft - Lancair Columbia 350
June 2, 2003
One look at the four-seat Lancair (pronounced Lance Air) Columbia 350 will tell you that it is new and different. Its composite skin is devoid of rivet heads and is amazingly smooth. Window glass fits flush with the fuselage skin. The wings are long, tapered, and devoid of seams and skin overlaps that are part of every other conventional small piston-powered aircraft. The Columbia’s shape is organic, changing in its dimensions every few inches; this ensures that the air flows over it smoothly, providing both speed and economy. Fit and finish are extraordinary, with paint quality equal to that of the finest automobiles.
The Lancair Columbia 350 is the newest offering by Lancair Certified Southwest. Based on the proven designs of successful homebuilt kit manufacturer Lancair, the factory-manufactured Columbia 350 is certified under the FAA’s new regulations for general aviation production aircraft.
Lancair has abandoned traditional aluminum construction in favor of advanced aerospace composites. Carbon fiber is used in the wing spars, fuselage, and control surfaces for strength. The end result is an aircraft with superior strength, safety, and speed that is certificated in the more robust Utility category.
Step into the commodious leather-upholstered cockpit through the wide gullwing doors, and you will find an entirely new environment for the general aviation pilot. Gone are the control wheels and haphazard layout of switches. Replacing them are military aircraft–type side sticks, equipped with electric trim buttons, and a simplified, intuitive panel layout.
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