Once-Insolvent Manufacturer Continues F2 Production, Pauses F4 Development

Flight Design, which was bought out by China-based ShangGong Group after filing for insolvency in late 2024, was able to soothe some of the public’s concerns for its future during an EAA Oshkosh AirVenture press conference. The plane maker is steadily pushing its F2 into production while taking a temporary break from developing the F4.

The company’s lineup, imported into the US under Airtime Aviation, has centered around the CT series since it debuted in 1996. Nearly 2,000 have been delivered globally, including 400 in the US.

In December 2024, Flight Design announced that it would be filing for insolvency as a result of the growing Russia-Ukraine conflict disrupting its production facility in Kherson. While this may have pushed it over the edge, Flight Design had already been treading on thin ice since debt issues forced it into insolvency in 2016.

These setbacks have stirred some doubt over Flight Design’s ability to maintain momentum with its newer F2 aircraft. Without the CT reputation to stand on, the clean-sheet design requires time and attention that the company did not have.

However, now that Flight Design has been bought out by the Shanghai-based ShangGong Group, the company may now have the working capital it needs to expand development efforts and boost production. Though ShangGong’s primary money-maker is sewing technology, it decided to dip into the aviation sector with the purchase of ICON Aircraft in 2024.

Appearing at EAA Oshkosh AirVenture for the first time as a ShangGong-owned manufacturer, Flight Design seemed confident that it would be able to not only continue producing its current lineup, but also expand its offerings. The company is looking into new engine options for the Rotax 912 iS-powered F2, especially now that MOSAIC gives it plenty of weight to play with. It is also working on setting up a second production facility in the Czech Republic (no, things are not moving to China) and resuming development of its four-seat F4.

“We’re caught back up to a decent production,” stated Tom Gutmann, Flight Design importer from Airtime Aviation. “We can now supply aircraft to dealers and distributors throughout the United States, and continuing up to the rest of the world.”

Flight Design is showcasing its F2 and CT-series planes at EAA Oshkosh AirVenture Booth #307.

FMI: https://flightdesign.com