• A:  There was a lot of input on the survey. The biggest surprise was how reasonable people’s suggestions were… Flight Design has been seeking input from the aviation community on desired C4 specifications and design criteria during 2011 via our website questionnaire.  The data shows the 10 most important criteria for the C4 are:

1.     Purchase Price:  (75% expressed a desire to see the price be €200,000 which at today’s exchange rate is US$280,000).  Flight Design has announced the C4 will be introduced with a well-equipped price (two glass displays, BRS parachute both standard) at US$250,000.  This is substantially less than the competition, in some cases close to half the price.

2.     Cruise Speed:  (70% asked that the C4 have a cruise speed of at least 145 kts).  The C4’s projected cruise speed is 155-160 kts.

3.     Useful Load:  (70% wanted a useful load of at least 500 kg (1,100 lbs).  The C4’s projected useful load is 600 kg (1,320 lbs)

4.     Fuel Consumption:  (58% sought fuel burn of 7 gph, 40% wanted 9 gph).  The C4’s fuel consumption for the gasoline engine, the Continental IO-360-AF (alternative fuels), announced at AOPA Summit 2011, will be in the 7-10 gph range depending on load and power setting.  Following the gasoline-powered C4, Flight Design intends to certify and offer a diesel engine capable of operating on Jet-A with an even lower fuel consumption.  Exact consumption data will depend on diesel engine selected.

5.     Fuel Type:  (85% of respondents wanted the aircraft to be able to operate on fuels other than 100LL avgas, either alternative fuel to avgas or Jet A.  Flight Design is addressing this concern with our selection of the Continental IO-360-AF and the follow-on diesel engine option.

6.     Rescue System:  (This was a yes or no question and the majority of respondents requested an airframe parachute recovery system for the C4, enough interest to make this item #6 in importance).  Flight Design announced at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2011 that the BRS parachute system will be standard in the C4, as it has been in Flight Design’s LSA products.  The BRS system in the C4 will feature a new, more sure-fire electronic ignition for the propellant rather than the current mechanical ignition.  The C4 will be the launch product for this new BRS system.

7.     Autopilot:  (This was also a yes or no question with the majority desiring an autopilot be available for the C4).  The C4 will offer an autopilot as optional equipment.

8.     Fuel Capacity:  (33% asked for 40 gal, 48% for 53 gal and 19% for 66 gal).  The C4 will have a fuel capacity of 70 gallons, all in the wings.

9.     Climb Performance:  (22% are seeking at least 750 fpm and 64% a 1,000 fpm climb capability).  The C4 is projected to have a climb rate of 985 fpm at MTOW and standard ISA.

10.  Range:  (45% requested range of 800 nm, 45% 1,000 nm and 10% 1,600 nm).  The C4 is projected to have a range of 1,200 nm at 65% power with the IO-360-AF engine.  The diesel engine will offer even more range.

Have there been any surprise requests from the flying public?

A :  There are always a few people who ask for the moon, so we’ve had some questions such as; Will it be pressurized? Can we have it with a Turbo Normalized conversion,  be offered with a turboprop engine a retractable gear, be equipped with floats for water operations? and if it will go 200 knots?  Can it be flown in known icing.

The reply to those sorts of questions is “no” at least not at this time.  Flight Design is doing everything possible to bring a truly modern, extremely capable, large-enough-for-four-full-sized adults, new 4-place aircraft to the market at a price that represents “game changing” value.  Once we have accomplished this successfully, we will look at future products.  Flight Design does have a long term product plan but that is not open for discussion for obvious reasons.

Has the engine been selected?

• Ability to provide the C4’s ideal power of 180 HP at a low 2,550 RPM.  A lower RPM results in a lower over flight noise footprint and a quieter, more comfortable cabin environment.  And because other variants of the venerable IO-360 series develop up to 210 HP, the IO-360-AF in the C4 will be de-rated and enjoying an easy life at 180 HP/2550 RPM.  This promises longer engine life, a high probability of reaching the 2,000 hour TBO and more reliable, trouble-free operation throughout.
• The IO-360-AF is specially engineered with a low 7.8:1 compression ratio and other alterations to its fuel system and other internal components to enable to operate on alternative fuels.   Exactly what the specifications of the alternative fuels of the future will be is still being developed, but future C4 owners can take heart in the fact that their engine will be more capable than others to operate on the widest range of whatever future alternative fuels will be available.
• The long and illustrious service history of the IO-360 engine series from Continental
• The Continental Motors’ trained and authorized service center network offering excellent parts and maintenance support throughout the world
• The enthusiasm, spirit and desire of the Continental Motors management team to join as Flight Design’s partner to ensure the C4 becomes the successful aircraft we believe it will be.
• For additional information on the IO-360-AF, please follow this AvWeb link recorded at the AOPA Summit in September, 2011:   CONTINENTAL’S NEW IO-360

Have the avionics been selected?

Is there a flying prototype yet?

A. Expected in the early spring before Aero.. Not much to add on this point.

We have had the C4 full-scale mock-up on display at AERO Friedrichshafen, Germany (April, 2011), EAA AirVenture Oshkosh (July, 2011) and AOPA Summit, (Sept, 2011) and it has generated considerable interest and an enthusiastic response.  Most people are surprised by how large the C4 will be….especially when the mock-up is sitting next to a CTLS in our display area!  A 6’3” person is able to walk under the wing without hitting their head and the left side will feature two “suicide style” doors, with the pilot’s door hinged forward and the LH rear door hinged aft.  This will create a gaping, unobstructed opening for easy ingress/egress of crew and passengers as well as any other bulky items.  The right side will have a standard single crew door and an external baggage door for access to the baggage area behind the rear seats, which will also be accessible from the inside over the rear seats.

First flight of the prototype is planned to coincide with AERO Friedrichshafen 2012.

Will you folks be at Sebring with the C-4?

A. We may bring the mock up to both Sebring or Sun n Fun but not the prototype, that is expected for Airventure 2012.  Attendees at the LSA Sport Expo at Sebring are not precisely our target market for the C4, although since Flight Design has been the leader in the LSA market since inception, it will surely be a topic of considerable interest during the show.  Since the C4 will be a certified aircraft, better venues for exhibiting the C4 mock-up are the shows mentioned in the earlier response above.  That is not to diminish the positive brand experience we have been able to foster among our current Flight Design CT LSA owners and it is certainly likely a reasonable number of them will consider moving up to the C4.