Thread: 3rd Generation LS ??? and other news from Headquarters!

Anyone know about the "third" generation LS and are we the online owners group? Just wondering??

And - I paid good money to have the CT MS Flight Sim to be developed - maybe I can get a free copy of the X-Plane version? Just wondering???



Flight Design Pilot Center
Training Sport Pilot Candidates in CTLS
South Woodstock, CONNECTICUT; May 17, 2009

With interest growing at American flight schools, Flight Design established the Flight Design Pilot Center concept to meet the needs of training institutions. The process began at Oshkosh 2008 with visits to numerous flight operators to best determine their needs for Light-Sport Aircraft. By fall the program was well underway and at Sun 'n Fun 2009, Flight Design USA rolled out its program.

"We were pleased at the response of flight school owners and saw that during an economic downturn, schools were searching for more cost-efficient trainers," said Matthias Betsch, CEO of Flight Design GmbH, the German supplier of the CTLS and MC Light-Sport Aircraft models.

"Our Flight Design Pilot Center (FDPC) program is a complete, professional package of elements needed by large and small schools," indicated Tom Peghiny, president of Flight Design USA, importer of the German line of best-selling aircraft. "The primary components of the FDPC are: a leading Light-Sport Aircraft; a Flight Design-branded learning system of books and DVD instructions; a PC-based flight simulator with specialization for the CTLS; and a 'First-Aid Kit' for flight schools, which provides them with a starter kit of commonly needed maintenance items to reduce CTLS downtime to a minimum."

Students at FDPC flight schools benefit from learning in the third-generation CTLS. As the segment is only four years old, a third generation aircraft demonstrates the intense development by Flight Design engineers to fashion the airplane to better suit American flying styles and the needs of schools.

All flight schools use materials to help train students to take knowledge tests (written and oral exams), and flight evaluations, but Flight-Design made an extra effort to assure their study guides were specific to the CTLS. Flight Design has engaged ASA and their expert Paul Hamilton to create these items.

The decision to use X-Plane software, which is available for PC-, Mac-, or Linux-based computer operating systems, proved foresightful after Microsoft suspended development on its hot-selling MS Flight Sim software. The X-Plane version not only runs on more computers but is more customizable to fit the Light-Sport segment. Flight Design will strive through regular upgrades to make the X-Plane CTLS ever closer to the actual experience as it considers the software a training aid more than an entertaining game.

FDPC students will also benefit from a feedback system and active online CT Owner Group to help them learn from others operating the CTLS (and earlier CTsw model), plus "Most Favored" insurance rates and readily-available financing. As Flight Design has sold more Light-Sport Aircraft than any other company, it also benefits from a growing support network to assure the CTLS continues its training mission.

All Sport Pilot candidates benefit from reduced hourly requirements and simpler aircraft flying in simpler airspace. This means the cost of obtaining the first pilot certificate offered by FAA is far lower than for the common Private Pilot certificate. The final cost of a Sport Pilot certificate varies by school and student, but is widely quoted as $3,500 to $5,000, well below the $8,000-10,000 average for Private.

Go to http://www.flightdesignusa.com/dealers.asp to find the closest Flight Design dealer or flight school. The new interactive map at this location shows dealers and flight schools with all contact info. The http://www.fd-pc.com website is a focused website solely for flight instruction in Flight Design aircraft.

Flight Design USA is the U.S. importer of the CT series from Germany. The company has succeeded in delivering almost 300 aircraft to its American network of distributors and dealers. One of the first Light-Sport Aircraft certified under ASTM standards, the carbon fiber CT is the best-selling LSA in America. Approximately 1,300 CT models are flying around the globe.

guessing

1st gen = ct2k
2nd gen = ctsw
3rd gen = ctls

I was thinking the CT MC since they designed it for flight schools.
John

Too bad X-Plane is so hard to set up and get running the way one would usually like. I've played with it some and have never been happy with it like I am with MS Flight Sim.

Bummer you've been dumped on a bit here. I would say your board will continue to be the center of CT messaging. It's well established and where people come to look for information. I'm betting it will stay that way.

Randy Epstein