Development of Flight Design‘s new four-seater and its CTLSi is fully under way, the company said this week at Sun ‘n Fun.
The CTLSi, featuring Rotax’s new electronic-fuel-injected 912 iS, made its first flight this week and will be ready for first deliveries this summer. The 912 iS, announced just a few weeks ago, comes with a price tag about $12,000 higher than its carbureted 912S counterpart, but also boasts 21 percent greater efficiency, according to Rotax.
In addition to the CTLSi, Flight Design has also received about 65 orders for its spacious new four-seat C4, announced at the Aero Friedrichshafen show in Germany last year. The carbon-fiber airplane has a target max cruise speed of 160 knots, as well as a max range with an unspecified avgas engine of 1,200 nm, and 1,700 nm for the diesel version.
Potential avionics for the C4 include Garmin’s G1000 and Dynon’s Skyview suite, and while the autopilot is currently slated as an option, a BRS chute will be included in the standard model.
When it comes to the aircraft’s selling point, Flight Design USA president Tom Peghiny emphasized that affordability is key.
“The [C4’s] $250,000 price point is very important,” he told Flying at Sun ‘n Fun.
The company says certification and first deliveries are expected in 2013.
