Posted for Harry League <harryleague@comcast.net>:

For what it is worth, My wife and I spent a week at the kit factory helping a
couple of builders fast build their planes.   We went to see what it is like to
actually build a plane having only done so for RC airplanes in the past.   While
we were there, we drove to Bend for a tour of the certified factory.

We got to see both the 300 series and the 400 version of the Columbia being
built and had ample examples to fondle in the showroom.   The 300 is not
spinable legally while the 400 is.   The difference is there is a ventral fin
added to the 400 AND its rudder is significantly larger.   We were not told of
this difference; rather it came out as we asked about the size difference of the
rudder and the ventral fin because they were significantly and obviously
different from the 300.

From the 300 POH (note, the 350 POH reads about the same):

"SPINS
The airplane, as certified by the Federal Aviation Agency, is not approved for
spins of any
duration. During the flight test phase of the airplane’s certification, spins
and/or spin recovery
techniques were not performed or demonstrated. It is not known if the airplane
will recover from
a spin.
WARNING
Do not attempt to spin the airplane under any circumstances. The airplane,
as certified by the Federal Aviation Agency, is not approved for spins of any
duration. During the flight test phase of the airplane’s certification, spins
were not performed. It is not known if the airplane will recover from a spin."

The 400 POH is not yet posted on the Lancair web site so I cannot report
anything other than that which I can remember from the tour.   Again, the size
and profile views are significantly different and they jump out at you
immediately.   The point here is that we were told the 400 is legally allowed to
do spins and hopefully to recover from them as well.

When we got back to the kit company and asked about the IVPJ spin recovery I was
told that the ideas being pursued now, unofficially, of course, are centered
around powering out of the spin.   I have no idea whether this will work or not
but before buying one of these rockets, I will seek out a more official
response.   In the meantime, I have been told that stall strips are one way to
go and in fact, I witnessed them being applied to the Columbia as well.

Hope this helps everybody reading this thread and if I got it wrong in some
detail, please chalk it up to being overwhelmed.   We had a very full week of it
all and would appreciate not being dragged into any flaming exchanges.

Regards,
Harry League