My plane, N788W, is a 2001 Lancair Columbia 300, s/n 40022, built in Bend, OR. I bought it used in 2010 with only 288 hours total time on the airfame and engine – practically a new airplane. Here are some basic specifications.

• • 310 hp Continental IO-550-N engine
  • Normally -aspirated
  • Best performance at 10,000 to 12,00 feet altitude
  • 165 kts TAS (true air speed), typically 11.5  gph fuel burn (<65% power, lean-of-peak)
  • 98 gallons usable fuel in the wing tanks
  • Nominal maximum range with wing tanks only = 1200 nm
  • TKS de-icing system (installed in 2013 in preparation for the flight to Antarctica)

To increase the range of my plane for long ocean crossings, I remove the back seats and install an auxiliary aluminum fuel tank that holds 70 gallons, as shown here.

Immediately after I bought the plane in 2010 I had the avionics upgraded, with a few additional upgrades since then:

• • Garmin GNS530W GPS
  • Garmin GMX 200 multi-function display
  • Garmin GTX 330ES transponder with ADS-B Out
  • SL-30 NAV/COM radio
  • Shadin fuel totalizer
  • STEC 55X autopilot
  • ICOM 706MKIIG HF radio
  • Two iPads with Foreflight loaded with Foreflight and Jeppesen charts, as needed
  • Stratus 3 GPS with ADS-B In