Flight Design CT


The Flight Design CT series is a family of high-wing, tricycle undercarriage, two seat, ultralight and light-sport aircraft produced by Flight Design of Germany. The family includes the original CT and the CT2K, CTSW, CTLS and the MC models.

Design and development

All models in the series mount an Rotax 912UL or Rotax 912ULS engine in tractor configuration.
The aircraft are of composite construction, with carbon fiber being the primary material. This allows a very aerodynamic shape to the fuselage and very high useful loads.
One reviewer of the CT2K writing COPA Flight in October 2004 described the aircraft as "fast, comfortable, roomy and very capable of long cross country flights for little money" and faulted the aircraft only for its difficulty slowing down from its cruise speed of 130 knots to its final approach speed of 50 knots, requiring careful planning to lose 80 knots between entering the circuit and stabilizing the aircraft on final approach.
Although the standard and required equipment varies by country, the CTSW has a standard Ballistic Recovery Systems parachute for the airframe. The BRS can be used to lower the entire aircraft to the ground in a controlled descent in the event of major structural failure, incapacitation of the pilot, or engine failure over mountainous terrain.

Regulatory categories

The aircraft can be flown under the microlight/ultralight regulations of several countries as well as the USA FAA Light-sport Aircraft rules, Canadian advanced ultralight and the European EASA Permit to Fly rules.
In December 2009 the CTLS was granted a type design approval and a production certificate by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, and in 2015, a CTLS production plant was constructed in China.

Operational history

As of June 2012, there were 344 CTs registered in the US, 18 in Canada and 76 in the United Kingdom.
One example was used by the Indian Air Force in a round-the-world expedition. Wing Commander Rahul Monga started off on 1 June 2007 and finished the circumnavigation flight on 19 August 2007. The total flight time logged was 247 hours.
In 2010 the Air Volunteer Fire Department in Bomberos de Cuenca, Ecuador took delivery of a CTLS for use as an air support unit for fire fighting reconnaissance. The aircraft is based at Mariscal La Mar airport, 8,300 feet above sea level.

Variants

;CT
;CT2K
;CTSW
;CTLS
;MC
;CTLS-Lite
;CTHL
;CTLE
;CTLSi
;CT Supralight

Specifications (CTSW)