Cessna shopping for Columbia?

"Dan Luke" wrote:
From this morning's AVweb:

"Cessna is one of as many as three suitors for Columbia Aircraft, which has
been shopped around by the Malaysian government, its principal investors, for
about a year. Analysts say acquiring Columbia would give Cessna instant
penetration of the luxury touring market that it has all but surrendered to
Cirrus and the current incarnation of Columbia...Cessna's interest could be an
indication that its high-wing Next Generation Piston project has failed to
strike a chord with dealers and potential owners and it has decided to enter
the low-wing sweepstakes."

Wonder how Columbia owners would feel about being converted to Cessna owners.


Interesting prospect - I wonder if Lancair would be part of the deal
too? I'm sure Cessna would love to have their name on the 330kt
Evolution turboprop as they have nothing like it in their lineup. If
not, I don't think there's any reason why they couldn't continue to
sell the planes still labeled as Columbias.