Buy And Fly A Columbia, Get Free Fuel... And Possibly Win Even More!

Representatives with Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing told ANN this week the company is doing all it can to mitigate the rising cost of fuel this summer -- and they've come up with a promotion that takes the some of the sting out of taxing up to the pump.

Columbia SummerFest '06 is a purchase incentive that pays off in free fuel. Simply purchase a new Columbia 350 or 400 of any model, Avidyne Entegra or Garmin G1000 equipped, and be rewarded with free fuel courtesy of Columbia and AirBP.

Columbia Aircraft will be distributing a postcard during SummerFest via mail, enthusiast publications, airshows and on each national demonstration tour (the Fly Columbia Tour, and the Columbia Airshow Tour featuring Sean D. Tucker). Each SummerFest postcard guarantees the aircraft purchaser free fuel.

The coded portion of the postcard holds the clue to the amount of free fuel from $5,000 up to $25,000... but only  an authorized Columbia sales representative has the reader to decode the amount.

To receive the SummerFest free fuel purchase incentive, simply take a demo flight, place an order before August 5, 2006 and take delivery prior to December 31, 2006.

Customers who act quickly will be able to take delivery of their Columbia in time to participate in the Columbia Sea Level Cruise contest, with a chance to win a grand prize that includes the choice of a luxury cruise or free AirBp fuel for one year (up to $15,000 value in a 12-month period).

To enter the contest -- open to pilots of Columbia 300, 350, and 400 aircraft -- pilots must take a trip in a Columbia aircraft and recount the experience in their own words and pictures. Participants may take as many trips as they wish, and submit a written contest entry (called, appropriately enough, a PIREP) for each trip.

Columbia owners are also encouraged to include pictures of the trip showing them and their Columbia in exotic and fun locations and describing the journey as creatively and eloquently as possible. Entrants are then encouraged to submit their PIREPs to a dedicated email address.

"This is a way to give something back to our customers while encouraging them to take full advantage of the capabilities of their Columbia aircraft," said Columbia Vice President of Marketing and Sales Randy S. Bolinger. "Whether they want to cruise sea level at 20 knots or Flight Level 250 at 235 knots, the trip is on us."

A grand prize winner will be selected by a panel of judges on October 5, 2006, and awarded their choice of either the luxurious Sea Level Cruise vacation or free AirBP fuel for one year (up to $15,000 total value).

A Judges’ Choice Award will be selected at the same time, and the winner will choose either a free annual inspection for their Columbia or $5,000 of free AirBP fuel. Both winners will be announced at this year's AOPA Expo in Palm Springs, CA on November 10, 2006.

FMI: www.flycolumbia.com/summerfest