Updating Flight Design's Promising New Four Seat Offering
Oshkosh 2012 was a great place to make news... or update news in the making. One such update concerned the greatly anticipated Flight Design C4.
One of the hottest new aircraft proposals currently offered to the general aviation market, "...development of the C4 continues with engineering of the engine installation, avionics selection and certification plan to meet an aggressive development schedule."
Due to other high priorities in 2011 and early 2012, such as attaining EASA (R)TC certification for the CTLS and introducing the new fuel-injected Rotax 912 iS engine on our new CTLSi model, which included a substantial redesign of the fuel system, the C4 program has reportedly not moved ahead quite as quickly as they "originally planned."
First Flights are expected in Spring of 2013.
Last fall, Flight Design announced that it had conducted a thorough review of the current engine suppliers and their technologies and decided Continental offered the best fit for the C4. The new 6-cylinder IO-360-AF (Alternative Fuel) being developed by Continental Motors for the C4 will be able to operate on 100LL avgas as well as alternative fuel(s) to 100LL. “This was a key prerequisite for Flight Design and our C4 customers, as the future of 100LL is uncertain at best,” according to FD's John Doman. Beyond the alternative fuel advantage, the IO-360 series from Continental has an excellent reputation for reliability, long life and smooth operation.
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