Flight Design CTSW
| CT series | |
|---|---|
 | |
| CTSW | |
| Role | Microlight/Ultralight |
| Manufacturer | Flight Design |
| Designed by | Matthias Betsch |
| First flight | March 1996 |
| Introduction | 1997 |
| Status | In production |
| Produced | 1997–present |
| Number built | 900+ |
| Unit cost | € 62,924.37 base price |
The Flight Design CT series is a family of high-wing, tricycle undercarriage, two seat ultralight and light-sport aircraft produced by Flight Design (Flightdesign Vertrieb) of Germany. The family includes the original CT and the CT2K, CTSW, CTLS and the new MC models.
Design and development
The aircraft are of composite construction, with carbon fiber being the primary material. This results in a very aerodynamic shape to the fuselage and very high useful loads (almost equal to the weight of the aircraft itself). The CTSW is so efficient that it needs to have the pitch of the propeller reduced significantly to stay within the 120-knot (222 km/h) maximum speed of the American Light-sport Aircraft (LSA) rules; in other countries, the CTSW has a higher cruising speed. In addition, the amount of negative (reflex) flaps is limited to -6 degrees in the US version; in other countries the flaps retract to -12 degrees in cruise, adding even more speed.
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. Both aircraft are high-wing designs using a 100 hp (70 kW) Rotax 912S engine in a tractor configuration (the 80 hp (60 kW) 912 is sometimes used outside of the US).
In December 2009 the CTLS was granted a type design approval and a production certificate by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
Operational history
As of December 2009, there were more than 304 CTs registered in the USA and 1,400 World Wide.
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 , Ecuador took delivery of a CTSW for use as an air support unit for fire fighting reconnaissance. The aircraft is based at , 8,300 feet above sea level.
Variants
Specifications (CTSW)
Data from
General characteristics
Performance
See also
Comparable aircraft
References
External links
Retrieved from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_Design_CTSW
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