Great Machines: Aircraft - Lancair Columbia 350

Jan Morgan

06/02/2003

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.
The 550-cu-in, 310-hp Continental engine gives strong climb performance on takeoff, and it allows the fixed-landing-gear Columbia a usable cruise speed of over 185 knots (214 mph). It is among the fastest single-piston-engine aircraft, in spite of its fixed landing gear. Its 98 gallons of usable fuel allow a cruising range of over 1,100 miles.

In flight, the side stick control has a reassuring feel of stability, making this aircraft a fine instrument platform. Pitch-and-roll control inputs are nicely balanced, and control forces are trimmed via a single thumb button on the side stick.

The avionics suite of the Columbia demonstrator features dual GPS systems coupled with a large display panel showing all navigational criteria, including en route and instrument approach charts. An S-Tec autopilot with altitude preselect, Stormscope weather avoidance, and Bose headsets complete the package.

With its excellent handling qualities, superior speed, and simplified non-retractable landing gear design, the Columbia 350 makes an excellent first aircraft for the pilot looking for fast transport and freedom from airline delays. As equipped, the Lancair 350 is priced at $346,000.
Lancair Certified Southwest, 888.526.2247, www.lancairsw.com