‘Metal Concept’ Intended To “Swallow The Flight School Market Whole” The Aero-News and Aero-TV teams participated in the Oshkosh 2008 unveiling 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 …
