Neither Rain Nor Snow... Nor Hail

'Let Your Dreams Take Flight' is the slogan for Columbia Aircraft... but this year started out as more of a nightmare.

Weather in Salem, OR delayed the certification of the Garmin G1000 panel during the first part of the year. Only a move of the whole works to Phoenix, where the weather was much more cooperative, allowed the certification to be completed. With the certification completed during late February and March, certification was granted the beginning of April. Columbia then delivered 20 aircraft that month and almost 20 in May.

June was shaping up just fine for deliveries as well... right up until the hailstorm sprinkled 66 brand new Columbia's with unwanted dimples.

"God decided we were getting a little cocky and sent a hailstorm our way," mused Bing Lantis, President and CEO of Columbia Aircraft (below).

Since there had been no data with regard to hailstorms versus composite aircraft and an in depth examination of the aircraft needed to take place. Stripping down, checking the layers and structural testing had to be done.

"The fallout was that there was no structural damage to the aircraft it was strictly cosmetic," said Lantis.

The sanding and repainting was actually easier said than done. Since Columbia paints its planes prior to assembly, they had no full size paint booth. The last of those repaints will be done by the end of the year.

With the nightmares, hopefully, behind them Columbia can return to a semblance of normalcy. "Our company has been operating profitably since late summer." Lantis announced this happy milestone.

Another milestone, more fitting of the Columbia slogan, had pilot Sherry Gettinger taking ownership of Columbia's 500th production aircraft.

Gettinger (above left) was convinced that a Cessna 182 would be the "logical choice for our first aircraft" -- but then she swayed to Columbia. "I was just blown away by how gently the aircraft handled." Gettinger remarked.

In other happy news, Columbia has expanded it's sales to Southern Africa -- making a total of 31 countries where Columbia aircraft are sold. This will add even more proud owners to the Columbia family.

Being a proud owner or flyer of a Columbia aircraft does have its perks. Randy Bolinger, VP of Columbia Aircraft Marketing and Business Development spoke about the contest sponsored by Columbia and BP.

The contest -- dubbed The Sea Level Cruise contest -- asked owners to submit their Columbia stories of interesting and exciting travels done with their airplane. The Grand Prize winner, Jared Max Hendler, shared a story of love.

Traveling eight hours roundtrip to visit his girlfriend in New York City from his home in Washington DC, Hendler knew there was a better way. He earned his pilot license and purchased a Columbia 400. The round trip was now an hour, the better to spend more time with his lady love. Hendler's Grand prize was a $5,000 fuel card oh and his girlfriend's hand in marriage, since they are now engaged.

The Judge's Choice went to Bill Hammack (above), who traveled from New Orleans, LA to Le Bourget, just outside of Paris with friend Jack Showers. The trip took 25.5 hours flown over the course of five days. This trip was a "warm up" for Hammack of fulfilling his lifelong dream to fly his plane around the world.

Columbia representatives also stated the year 2007 is shaping up to look like a 250 aircraft year, about the same as 2006 would have been without Mother Nature interfering.

FMI: www.flycolumbia.com