Flight Design, creator and builder of the CT series of Light-Sport Aircraft, wants to help disabled pilots in their quest to learn to fly. To support the work being done by Able Flight, Flight Design donated one of its hand control systems for use by a disabled student who has access to a Flight Design aircraft.
The new hand control system — a set of parts and instruction for retrofitting to an in-service aircraft — has completed all testing and entered production. The Able Flight unit will be one of of such systems produced and now available. The complete system retails for approximately $4,000.
“We have watched Able Flight and its director Charles Stites and we are very impressed with the organization’s success at getting young disabled persons into Light-Sport Aircraft,” stated Flight Design CEO Matthias Betsch. “We need more people in flying. These young people want to fly. We have many aircraft in the field. So we worked with Flight Design Technik to create and build a hand control system. We are pleased to make it available to Able Flight and to customers who need such equipment.”
Charles Stites, Executive Director of Able Flight, received the donated system at Flight Design’s Sun ‘n Fun press conference. Stites commented, “I’ve been following the development of the controls for the CT, and am very pleased to hear that they are now in production, and obviously I’m gratified with this offer. It has been one of my goals to find a way to have accessible LSAs available for training, and for rental or purchase after a pilot gets a certificate. It is a tribute to Flight Design that they have worked with Flight Design Technik to develop the controls. This will certainly expand opportunities for flight students with disabilities.”
Flight Design is a 24-year-old air-sport products producer based in Germany. The company remains the worldwide market leader thanks to its well-received CT series of light aircraft. More than 1,700 of these aircraft are flying in 40 countries. One of the first aircraft certified under ASTM International standards in 2005, the CT (“composite technology”) remains the top-selling LSA in America through six consecutive years. Flight Design sold the first LSA to India and was the first LSA to earn Chinese Type Design Approval.
For more information: FlightDesignUSA.com
