Will Be Extending Envelope For Next Phases Of Program

After a successful first flight April 9th, Flight Design is set to expand its C4 flight test program over the next several days.

At a news conference at Sun 'n Fun in Lakeland, FL Wednesday, Matthias Betch, Managing Director of Flight Design, said that EASA's rules for early flight testing are somewhat different than the FAA's. An aircraft is given a "release to fly" with a very specific flight envelope for the first flight, he said, and the C4 was successfully run through all of the parameters listed on the release.

The only issue noted during the first flight, Betch said, was a slightly higher than expected engine temperature with the Continental IO-360 AF (Alternate Fuel) engine. "We have a lot of experience with the Rotax engine, but not as much with a standard engine," Betch noted, but said that slightly opening the engine cowl vent brought the temperature right into line.

Flight Design USA president Tom Peghiny said that now the flight envelope is being expanded, and that flight testing will continue through Friday. Among the changes will be the use of a full 30 degrees of flaps. The entire first flight was flown using 10 degrees of flaps.

The next steps also include continued work on the safety box and interior design along with more test flights.

Peghiny also said that the company's manufacturing facility in Taiwan has completed the first conforming airframe of a CTLS in China. The 250,000 square-foot facility has a runway, and will produce both C4s and CTLSs for worldwide distribution.

Finally, Peghiny said that the CTLE law enforcement aircraft is seeing an upswing in sales. He said there are three units currently flying and two on order from law enforcement agencies in California and Oklahoma. The price with the law enforcement package is between $250,000 and $400,000, Peghiny said, but that equates to about two patrol cars that are fully outfitted for use. "It looks like it (the CTLE) is going to be a real business," he said.

FMI: www.flightdesignusa.com