Thread: New HL

Flight Design unveils glider tug, hand controls

By Thomas A. Horne
Flight Design announced April 9 that a new variant of its CT line of light sport aircraft will be a glider tug. Named the CTLS HL (for high lift), the airplane is now in flight test and will have a turbocharged Rotax 914 engine, feature a wing span 12 percent longer than that of the standard model CT versions, have a larger horizontal stabilizer, and will be offered in the United States as well as Europe. Floats also can be fitted to the CTLS HL.

Turbocharging will make the CTLS HL especially appealing to those operating out of high-altitude airports, Flight Design says. The price is set at 92,612 Euros, or about $125,026.

A Flight Design subsidiary, Flight Design Technik, announced that it is moving forward with production of hand controls for use in CT airplanes. Designed for those unable to use their legs, the hand controls incorporate rudder, nosewheel steering, aileron, elevator, and power controls on a two-piece control yoke. The 2,500-Euro/$3,375 controls weigh five pounds and take an hour for initial installation. Subsequent installations or removals will take less than 20 minutes, Flight Design Technik said.

Two other CT mods—a belly-mounted cargo pod capable of carrying up to 110 pounds, and a 35-gallon auxiliary fuel tank—were also announced at AERO. The cargo pod measures four feet, seven inches long; 13 inches deep; and two feet, eight inches wide. The auxiliary fuel tank fits into the co-pilot’s seating space, effectively making a weight exchange that replaces the mass that would have been taken up by a second pilot. Under this scheme, the airplane will have extended range without exceeding LSA gross weight limits. Price and availability information on these mods are not yet available.

April 9, 2010

so will this turbo ct be SLSA? i can see me now indicating 120kts @ 17,000'

If you be limited to the 2,000 AGL or 10,000' maximum for flight under sport pilot rules, where would you be flying over land that peaks at 15,000'? Aren't most of the Sierras at no more than 12,000'?

even 10,000' performance would be good as well as climb. granted cruising near the flight levels requires a medical.

I wonder if we could buy a new cowl and bolt on a 914 and a new cowl when we hit TBO, or would it be more complicated than that ? WF

Don't the LSA rules state that the engine must be nomally aspirated? That would thus preclude us from having a turbocharged engine.

Would it be good if it could be categorized as a motor glider? Then, I think, there's no need for a medical. Not sure about a driver's license though....

Nothing in the LSA rules I can find precludes turbocharging. It specifies reciprocating engines. So, sorry, no jets. WF

Originally Posted by Teamplayer

Would it be good if it could be categorized as a motor glider? Then, I think, there's no need for a medical. Not sure about a driver's license though....

my best friend fly's an europa motor glider with the 914, very cool