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May 25, 2008 Press Release Green, Safe & Affordable Airplane
In an era of rising fuel prices and an increased awareness in protecting the environment, the Flight Design CT is the answer to many pilots’ dreams and shrinking wallet. Burning less than five (some say only three) gallons of gas per hour, all while traveling at 112~120 knots per hour (that is 138 miles per hour or the equivalent of 27 miles per gallon) it is more efficient than any other traditional single engine airplane or the average automobile. Most single engine aircraft burn 8~12 gallons of Av-Gas per hour (or more).
The CT (for composite technology), powered by a 100 HP ROTAX engine, can run on either 91 Octane automobile gas, or traditional 100 low lead aviation fuel. Aviation gas contains lead, as the name implies. Automobile gas is much better for the engine and the environment. It is also 25% lower priced than the $ 5.25 per gallon Av-Gas. Thus, the hourly operating cost is reduced by more than $ 25 per operating hour over a traditional single engine aircraft.
The Flight Design CT is one of the safest airframes on the market today. The composite construction is very dense, light, and crash resistant, protecting the pilots in an off airport landing. The CT comes standard with a whole plane emergency parachute Ballistic Recovery System (BRS) manufactured in S. Saint Paul MN and is found on many Light Sport Aircraft (LSA), and many more expensive aircraft manufacturers worldwide, as optional equipment.
Additionally, the airplane has unparalleled visibility to the front, sides, and top via the skylight window for those steep turns. The cabin, at 49 inches wide, is wider than most single engine airplanes on the market that cost four times as much.
The CT is manufactured in the Ukraine, assembled and test flown in Germany, disassembled and then shipped to the United States via shipping crate. Locally, LSA North, Inc. then reassembles the aircraft and configures it for the new owner in less than a few hours time.
Barring currency fluctuations, a CTsw starts at just $ 101,000. This compares to a Cessna 172 that sells for over $225,000 and costs twice as much to operate and fly. Many weekend aviation hobbyists and flight schools are seeing the savings in going Green with a CT.
The Sport Pilot (SP) license was created in late 2004 by the FAA to answer the demands of the General Aviation community and to address the declining number of new pilots feeding the Commercial Aviation industry due to high training costs. Combined with low acquisition and operating costs, the Sport Pilot license also allows for people otherwise disqualified by medical issues from getting a traditional Private Pilot license to fly as Sport Pilots.
A traditional Private Pilot license can cost over $ 8,000 to attain. A Sport Pilot license can be earned for about $3,000! All qualified SP training from a qualified instructor can count upwards toward the next rating, i.e. a Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, or Commercial Pilot license. Thus saving thousands of training dollars in the long run.
A traditional pilot’s license requires the student pilot (and all licensed pilots) to acquire a Third Class Medical Certificate or higher each year or two. Unfortunately, many people are unable to become (or remain) a licensed pilot due to cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, missing limbs, or for taking certain everyday medications. Under the Sport Pilot regulations, provided the FAA has not revoked a medical certificate, as long as the pilot has a valid State Drivers License and is not currently suffering from a medical impairment that would make the operation of an automobile or aircraft unsafe, he is legally able to fly an LSA. Ask any pilot who has lost his right to fly how important this new rule is to him, and you find a new Sport Pilot.
The main differences in a Sport Pilot license to a Private Pilot license is that SP are limited to daytime flights in good weather (VFR) conditions. Then again, not too many PP fly at night or in bad weather anyway so it is a moot point for most pilots. Additionally, LSA and SP are limited to 2 seats, 100 HP, 120 knots or less, and remaining below 10,000’ MSL. Again, most PP don’t need more speed, power, or to fly that high anyway.
The minimum age to begin training and solo the aircraft is just 16 and 17 to sit for the practical exam. There is no maximum age.
LSA North, Inc. is the distributor of the Flight Design CT in MN, WI, ND, SD, and northern IL. The flight school associated with LSA N has the premier Sport Pilot training program in the upper Midwest. All Certificated Flight Instructors at LSA North hold advanced ratings in flight and ground instruction, aviation degrees, and many levels of experience ranging from combat flight in helicopters, low-level search & rescue, to Boeing 757 international operating experience.
LSA North is starting a new Sport Pilot ground school training course on Tuesday, June 3rd at 7:00 p.m. at the AirLake airport. Flight instruction can begin immediately with any of our instructors in our modern aircraft, and you can become a licensed pilot this summer!
All of the aircraft in the LSA North, Inc flight school are 2006 or newer and contain many modern advantages (i.e. computerized glass cockpits). These aircraft are more advanced than many commercial aircraft operating today.
Flight instruction is $ 43 per hour and aircraft rental is just $ 93 per hour – wet (includes gasoline) with no hidden additional fuel surcharges. Call (651) 340-5150 or email ScottJ@LSANorth.com for more information or to schedule a $ 59 Discovery Flight for the future pilot in your life.
To learn more, please visit www.lsanorth.com/faq.htm
Videos and photos available at http://lsanorth.com/gallery.htm and http://lsanorth.com/news.htm
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