Steve Masters Summarizes the Farewell to the Bend, Oregon Community

On the weekend of August 28th, 2009, Lancair/Columbia/Corvalis 300/350/400 owners arrived in Bend, Oregon for the final Bend Reunion Fly-In.  The bittersweet gathering followed Cessna’s difficult decision on April 29th of this year to close the former Columbia facility and move all factory operations to Wichita, Kansas in response to the harsh economic climate.  Steve Masters, President of the Cessna Advanced Aircraft Club, explained that the reunion provided owners with one last opportunity to show support and gratitude for the Bend community before the move.

The reunion, however, featured positive developments for the owner group as well.  Cessna representatives took the opportunity to reiterate their continued support of the aircraft and their owners.  Earlier this year, Cessna Aircraft debuted the newly named 350 Corvalis and 400 Corvalis TT, formerly the Cessna 350 and Cessna 400 respectively, in a sign of their long-term commitment and excitement for the aircraft product line. 

When Cessna purchased Columbia Aircraft in November of 2007, CEO Jack Pelton assured existing owners that they would be looked after; the partnership has proved to be extremely beneficial for the existing owner group.  Owners have survived the acquisition with warranties in tact and confidence in Cessna’s dedication to continued service and support.

Though the closure of the Bend facility and final Oregon reunion marked a sad finale for the aircraft owners and the local community, Masters explained that the owner group remains optimistic about their partnership with Cessna.  The owners have experienced a tumultuous ownership history.  Originally manufactured in the late 1990s by Lancair Certified, the company became Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing after Composite Technology Research Malaysia (CTRM) bought a controlling interesting in the division in 2003.  After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2007, Columbia Aircraft entered acquisition talks with several companies, finally announcing the successful purchase by Textron, Cessna’s parent company.  It would seem, then, that while the owners may be changing their home base, they’ve finally found their “home.”

FMI: www.lancairpilots.org/, www.cessna.com/NewReleases/New/NewReleaseNum-1192260253604.html, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork, http://twitter.com/AeroNews