It’s Official: Columbia is Now a Cessna

Just when I thought I’d never again need to worry about remembering more model numbers Cessna tonight announced not only that it was the successful bidder in the Columbia bankruptcy case, but that it would rename those two new airplanes the Cessna 350 and the Cessna 400.

Good for you folks.

Not only does Cessna get a fine company with a great line of products that have delivered over 600 airframes in 10 years, but they now build the fastest single-engine production airplanes on the planet. The Cessna 400 will clip along at 235 KIAS. Best of all for all those folks in Bend Oregon, the Columbia lives on and a lot of people get to keep their jobs. And there’s more good economic news apparently in the hopper for Bend as well.

The transaction is expected to close December 4, 2007. Now I just need to figure out how to add a little Cessna 400 time to my logbook.

Cessna History Quiz

OK you knowledge junkies. In order now, give me the three-number identifier for all the Cessnas built with model numbers after the Cessna 400. And this one is probably too easy, so let’s add in the name. For instance, the C172 is the Skyhawk and the C182 is the Skylane.

I have no idea what the prize will be yet, but I’ll think of something commensurate with the sweat that will pour from your brow as you think of the answer.

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