Thread: Metal CT

Flight Design Introduces Metal Version Of CT LSA

Flight Design USA, makers of one of the most popular Light Sport Aircraft designs in the U.S., unveiled a new all-metal model at EAA AirVenture on Monday. The Flight Design MC -- for Metal Concept -- is essentially the same as the Flight Design CT-LS but is constructed mainly of metal, and is aimed to appeal to the flight school and training market. Matthias Betsch, CEO of Flight Design in Stuttgart, Germany, said the company has been working on the new design for three years. The wings and tail are metal, the MC has a simpler tail structure, and the cockpit sill is lower for easier entry. It will be about 5 to 7 knots slower than the CT-LS. The LS also carries about 50 pounds more load and has about 500 miles more range with full fuel. The MC is available with 80 or 100 horsepower and analog instruments or a glass cockpit; the LS is only available in the high-end configuration. Check back with AVweb later this week for more details about the new airplane and a video tour direct from Oshkosh.

The CT-LS model was introduced worldwide at the Sebring LSA Expo in January 2008.

i saw images of this design years ago and thought this should be the next release. very attractive and simple. it didn't strike me as a "metal ctsw" but substantially different.

The drawings I saw looked "very metal" to me and of course it looks like an LS not an SW. They were probably more recent however. I'm trying to get the price but haven't as yet. Originally it was to be in the $85,000 dollar range. I doubt they can still accomplish that with the dollar "headaches".

I certainly understand wanting to get into the training market, I just hope these guys can sustain all they've "bitten off". Time will tell. I'd still like to see more invested in good solid advertising in this country. Right now ***** is running some nice ads and it's paying off in the sale of airplanes - who knows if it's making it to the bottom line or not.

You can have all the airplanes in the world but if you don't brag to the folks they won't know to buy them!

By this picture, it appears that it has wing struts.

it does have wing struts,

i think this was the better 2nd design, not a competition but a shot at the lower end training market.

now that there are 3 it is a product line that i can appreciate but i'm afraid the economy isn't going to allow any rapid success, survival is more like it for a while.

Here's a thread that gives a few better pics that I thought you all might be interested in:

http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?Cont ... 5c82853&#d

John

Flight Design Unveils New MC Model LSA At AirVenture 2008
Sun, 27 Jul '08
'Metal Concept' Intended To "Swallow The Flight School Market Whole"
The Aero-News team participated in a media-only unveiling Sunday afternoon of an all-new light sport aircraft (LSA) produced by Flight Design, the 2009 MC or Metal Concept Model. The aircraft has been in development for approximately 36 months and with significant user input, was designed to respond to the needs of flight schools, flight clubs and the preferences of aviation enthusiasts who value the characteristics and maintainability of a metal fuselage.

Flight Design's new MC uses aluminum for the fuselage, wings, and tail, with a complete steel internal fuselage and carbon fiber used on the nose cowl. A welded steel safety cell surrounds the cabin. As with Flight Design's other offerings, the MC comes standard with a whole airframe emergency parachute system.
The overall length of the MC is similar to the CTLS, but has a wider wing span and is designed with a conventional stabilizer-elevator, intended to improve pitch stability and allow for "easier landings." With the student pilot in mind, the aircraft includes urethane polymer shock absorbers in the nose gear designed to absorb more than 50% of the energy generated on the first bounce.
The aircraft controls include a center, floor-mounted stick and will be available with the Classic or Advanced Instrument Panel options similar to the other CT lines, provided by Dynon, Garmin, and PS Engineering.

The MC provides a roomier cabin as compared to the CTLS and CTSW adding nearly 8" in height over the CTLS, and claiming to be more than 12 inches wider than most GA training aircraft. The MC payload is approximately 525 pounds, slightly less than the CTLS. The fuel capacity of the aircraft is considerably less than the other Flight Design LSAs, holding 26.4 gallons vs. 34 gallons in both the CTLS and CTSW. However, the MC maintains noteworthy and economical fuel consumption in the same 4-5 gallon per hour range, using the ubiquitous Rotax 912 engine.
Flight Design, based in Germany, has thus far produced approximately 1,000 LSAs, flying in 25 countries, currently giving them the largest market share of an estimated 20+ LSA manufacturers. The US is the company's largest market for LSAs but also serves customers in Canada, South America, Europe, and India.
Flight Design USA's President, Thomas Peghiny estimates that the Ukraine based production facility would, in the first year, produce approximately 60 of the new MCs for the US market, with the first aircraft expected to be available in the 1st Quarter of 2009.
Flight Design USA has seven US distributors. Representatives from two Midwestern distributors mentioned they are very pleased with the new MC and that because of the outstanding fuel performance of these aircraft, Flight Design sales continue to do well, despite -- or, perhaps, in response to -- increases in fuel prices.
When asked about their marketing goals, Ken Godin, National Sales Director, responded Flight Design wants to deploy the MC to "swallow the flight school market whole"... an ambitious task, particularly with Cessna's Model 162 SkyCatcher on the horizon for a late-2009 entry into service.

Along with the introduction of the MC, Flight Design has also developed a financing and training programs that they believe will be of interest to their target markets. Godin described how Flight Design USA will be offering flight schools a packaged training program that encourages more interest in aviation and shows how prospective students can attain their LSA certificate within two weeks, either concurrently or one week per month for two months.
The 2009 MC will be displayed at the Flight Design exhibit at AirVenture 2008, where more information will be made available on the aircraft

Boy - this looks like a long shot at best. The market is trainers, the competition is obviously Cessna and the specs look similar except for the engine. Cessna changed from a Rotax to an oldline aircraft engine because their potential customers are not comfortable with a Rotax engine. I would think the price has to be a lot more competitive to switch customers and Cessna has a large order lead at the start.
I wish them luck.