'Metal Concept' Intended To "Swallow The Flight School Market
Whole"
The Aero-News team participated in a media-only unveiling Sunday
afternoon of an all-new light sport aircraft (LSA) produced by
Flight Design, the 2009 MC or Metal Concept Model. The aircraft has
been in development for approximately 36 months and with
significant user input, was designed to respond to the needs of
flight schools, flight clubs and the preferences of aviation
enthusiasts who value the characteristics and maintainability of a
metal fuselage.
Flight Design's new MC uses aluminum for the fuselage, wings,
and tail, with a complete steel internal fuselage and carbon fiber
used on the nose cowl. A welded steel safety cell surrounds the
cabin. As with Flight Design's other offerings, the MC comes
standard with a whole airframe emergency parachute system.
The overall length of the MC is similar to the CTLS, but has a
wider wing span and is designed with a conventional
stabilizer-elevator, intended to improve pitch stability and allow
for "easier landings." With the student pilot in mind, the aircraft
includes urethane polymer shock absorbers in the nose gear designed
to absorb more than 50% of the energy generated on the first
bounce.
The aircraft controls include a center, floor-mounted stick and
will be available with the Classic or Advanced Instrument Panel
options similar to the other CT lines, provided by Dynon, Garmin,
and PS Engineering.
The MC provides a roomier cabin as compared to the CTLS and CTSW
adding nearly 8" in height over the CTLS, and claiming to be more
than 12 inches wider than most GA training aircraft. The MC payload
is approximately 525 pounds, slightly less than the CTLS. The fuel
capacity of the aircraft is considerably less than the other Flight
Design LSAs, holding 26.4 gallons vs. 34 gallons in both the CTLS
and CTSW. However, the MC maintains noteworthy and economical fuel
consumption in the same 4-5 gallon per hour range, using the
ubiquitous Rotax 912 engine.
Flight Design, based in Germany, has thus far produced
approximately 1,000 LSAs, flying in 25 countries, currently giving
them the largest market share of an estimated 20+ LSA
manufacturers. The US is the company's largest market for LSAs but
also serves customers in Canada, South America, Europe, and
India.
Flight Design USA's President, Thomas Peghiny estimates that the
Ukraine based production facility would, in the first year, produce
approximately 60 of the new MCs for the US market, with the first
aircraft expected to be available in the 1st Quarter of 2009.
Flight Design USA has seven US distributors. Representatives
from two Midwestern distributors mentioned they are very pleased
with the new MC and that because of the outstanding fuel
performance of these aircraft, Flight Design sales continue to do
well, despite -- or, perhaps, in response to -- increases in fuel
prices.
When asked about their marketing goals, Ken Godin, National
Sales Director, responded Flight Design wants to deploy the MC to
"swallow the flight school market whole"... an ambitious task,
particularly with Cessna's Model 162 SkyCatcher on the horizon for
a late-2009 entry into service.
Along with the introduction of the MC, Flight Design has also
developed a financing and training programs that they believe will
be of interest to their target markets. Godin described how Flight
Design USA will be offering flight schools a packaged training
program that encourages more interest in aviation and shows how
prospective students can attain their LSA certificate within two
weeks, either concurrently or one week per month for two
months.
The 2009 MC will be displayed at the Flight Design exhibit at
AirVenture 2008, where more information will be made available on
the aircraft.