My buddys new plane - Columbia 400

Bill Haystead · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 11:49 pm

The guy with a cottage back of mine got his pilots license two years ago and last month bought himself a new aircraft. He is a very successfull architect and has a few dollars (lots of dollars). Hence he was able to buy a brand new Columbia 400 with full glass panel (Full Garmin G1000). What a beauty! Here are some of the specs.

Engine; Continental TSIO-550, 310HP
Prop: Hartzell, 3 blades, 77 in dia
Length: 25.2 ft
Height 9ft
Wingspan 35.8 ft
Takeoff distance over 50 ft obstacles at 3,600 lbs: 1900 ft
max rate of climb 1500 fpm
Certified ceiling 25,000 ft (no lie)
Criuising speed high speed power: fL 250 235 kts
Landing distance over 50 ft obstacle at 3400 lbs: 2600 ft

I didn't get a chance to go up with him this trip, but hope to the next time that he is up. He is American and lives in Chicago. He did a few low level high speed passes over my cottage on Saturday. Man this thing looks and handles like a fighter aircraft. Can hardly wait to get a ride and a bit of stick time.

Cheers Bill

71-1091752782 · Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:46 am

Bill Haystead wrote:

max rate of climb 1500 fpm

? ? ? ??? ? ? ?

Pretty poor climb performance for a 310HP Continental swinging 3 blades.... Must be a heavy plane :p

Cheers!

Gary

Edited By Gary Madore on 1155516554

Harry CVA5812 · Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 2:21 am

....mmmmmm very nice plane! One of the top performers in the single piston class. I believe the new Mooney Acclaim may be a bit faster.....bout the only one tho! A very sweet lookin' plane too!

Harry

Bill Haystead · Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:45 am

Your the expert with that stuff Gary. I believe that it's composite constuction - its says that the max ramp weight is 3612 lbs. I'm getting these specs out of "Flying" magazine. There is a good article on the Columbia 400 in there this month. I didn't get a chance to get down to Georgian Bay Airport and kick the tires - only saw it in the air. I'll let you know more about it after I actually get to carress this thing.

PS: You can have one also, if your ready to part with a good part of a million dollars.

Cheers Bill

rabbitcancer · Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 3:46 pm

I hate rich people.

Bill Haystead · Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 4:19 pm

I like this guy much better now that he has the plane.

You can bet that there is a business "write off" involved somehow. I guess you'll have to go on the "no ride list", Devon.

Cheers Bill

CVA303 · Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 4:26 pm

Sweet ride Bill

BTW, how is the summer brew going? Are the hops good this year?

Bill Haystead · Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:12 pm

I've been so darn busy, this year, that I just have not had the time to do any brewing, Bill. I'll probably get a few batches going in the fall. I had two batches go bad in the spring. I'm still trying to figure out what went wrong? I used natural spring water from my camp and I thought that I might have gotten some contamination. Now, I'm beginning to believe that I had a bad batch of yeast. I'm going to try another batch using spring water and buy a new batch of yeast. I'm hoping that I'm correct. The natural spring water should give the brew a nice flavour.

Cheers Bill

CVA303 · Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:33 pm

...or it could give you the squirts in the morning. LOL. Good luck on the brewing. I only wish I knew how to do it and I'd try.

Ken CVA868 · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:41 am

Beautiful, beautiful aircraft. Wouldn't mind one myself when I win the lottery! ???

Here's a couple of places to check it out:

Flying Magazine article Bill refers to

Columbia 400 webpage

rabbitcancer · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:54 am

lol Haystead - even if I was on the list, I wouldn't have the dosh to fly over just now.

Haven't been home in 2 years to the day next week.
Checked out the site - it is a beautiful plane. I am green three times over. (holy shite - 235 knots!!!!)

That G1000 is a site to behold as well...

Get some pics for us.

My buddys new plane - Columbia 400

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