Fri, Mar 28, 2003
The turbocharged Lancair Columbia 400 is designed
to climb up through the clouds to the flight levels where it can
stretch its legs and cover distance. Beginning next fall, Lancair
Columbias will have the ice protection owners want to realize the
aircraft's capabilities.
The Lancair Company officially announced today that it is
pursuing certification of the revolutionary ThermaWing™
thermoelectric deicing system for its Columbia line of certified
aircraft and will display the system on Columbia 400 prototype
N143LC next week at Lakeland.
Lancair anticipates completing "anti-ice" certification on the
Columbia 400 in time to offer it on its earliest deliveries of the
aircraft this fall. Certification of the normally aspirated
Columbia 350 will follow shortly thereafter.
Developed and manufactured by Northcoast
Technologies of Chardon, Ohio, ThermaWing employs a laminate tape
of flexible, expanded graphite between an outer, heat conducting,
layer and an electrically insulating inner layer. The tape is
heated by electricity generated by an increased capacity alternator
specified for the installation. De-ice and anti-ice is performed by
a patented system that cycles and rapidly transfers power to
multiple sections of the tape. This tape is bonded to the leading
edge surface of the Columbia's wings and horizontal
stabilizer.
Propeller deice will be handled with a heated prop. There will be a
removable window plate available as an option.
"We're not only pleased to improve the utility of
the aircraft with de-ice protection, we are excited to lead the
industry in introducing a much improved technology," said Lancair
Vice President of Sales and Marketing Mark Cahill. "ThermaWing
reduces pilot workload and increases the safety margin of the
aircraft in inclement weather while not negatively impacting its
performance when the sky is clear."
ThermaWing™ has a long association with Lancair aircraft -
the Columbia's wing has been used in NASA ice tunnel tests during
the past four years during the product's development. Final pricing
for installations on new aircraft and possible retrofits to
existing aircraft has not yet been confirmed. Based in Bend,
Oregon, The Lancair Company manufactures the Lancair Columbia line
of certified, high performance, composite aircraft.
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