Flight Design Coming Back

The popular S-LSA is heading back to the United States after a protracted absence

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Flight Design, after entering receivership two years ago, is now owned by the German company LiftAir, which will resume production of its popular two-seat high-wing CTLSi aircraft.
  • The updated CTLSi, manufactured in Ukraine and Germany, will feature a full Dynon avionics suite and is slated to have its first U.S. demo plane arrive soon.
  • Flight Design USA also plans to restart the development process for the four-seat C4 single, promising significant updates to align with modern production, certification, and equipment standards.
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One of the first LSAs to hit the market 10 years ago and one of the most popular ever, is the Flight Design CS-series of two-seat high wing sport planes. Tom Peghiny, president of Flight Design USA, told Plane & Pilot that the complicated chain of events that began two years ago with Flight Design entering into receivership. Without going into a great deal of detail, the company is now under ownership of LiftAir, a German company that will again produce the CTLSi.

Flight Design CTLS
Courtesy of Flight Design

As before, manufacturing and assembly will be done at factories in Ukraine and Germany. The first U.S. demo plane is slated to arrive at the U.S. headquarters soon. The updated CTLSi will feature a full Dynon suite of avionics, including three displays, with autopilot. Peghiny told Plane & Pilot that the company will start up the process for developing the four-seat C4 single, though Peghiny said the plane would be greatly updated to reflect today’s more manufacturer-friendly production and certification processes, as well as new equipment, including engines and avionics. We’ll keep you updated.

Learn more at Flight Design USA.


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Isabel Goyer

A commercial pilot, Isabel Goyer has been flying for more than 40 years, with hundreds of different aircraft in her logbook and thousands of hours. An award-winning aviation writer, photographer and editor, Ms. Goyer led teams at Sport Pilot, Air Progress and Flying before coming to Plane & Pilot in 2015.
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