Flight Design CTLS Wins Aircraft Class in Prestigious Air Race

Leinfelden-Echterdingen, GERMANY / 19 July 2011- The long and winding road gets considerably straightened when the best of the best highly efficient light aircraft compete in a major cross country air race. The Paris to Madrid 2011 event celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first Morane-Saulier race between Paris and Madrid back in 1911.

"This CTLS (F-WBFD for Bravo Flight Design) won the Paris to Madrid air race in the Aircraft class and was second among all classes behind the Pipistrel Sinus motorglider and before the Pipistrel Virus SW," reported, Christophe Briand, of French Flight Design importer, Innovair. Paris to Madrid racers flew a 1,229-kilometer or 768-mile course (graphic).

"Our CTLS Light-Sport Aircraft proved its top-of-class efficiency winning Airplane class in this four-leg, 768-mile race," stated Tom Peghiny, president of Flight Design USA. "We have strived to portray our performance results honestly and we can do so precisely because CTLS performs so well. CTLS is an intelligent design that works in real-world flying."

More information on the Paris to Madrid air race can be found at http://parismadrid2011.free.fr/PM2011/articles.php?lng=en&pg=64. Organizers noted, "All along the journey, the pilots have the occasion to demonstrate the efficiency and reliability of their aircraft, especially during the crossing of the Pyrénées mountains." Called an "Eco Challenge," the flight tasked competitors and manufacturers with entering highly efficient aircraft. "We wish to reward the manufacturer having conceived, made, or improved the best performing aircraft based on energy consumption, payload, and speed," said organizers.

"The Paris to Madrid is a prestigious commemorative race. We're very pleased the CTLS took first place in Aircraft class," exclaimed John Doman, Director of Business Development, Global Sales & Marketing for Flight Design! "Our market-leading LSA is well regarded for its speed, efficiency, and reliability. A leading result in a lengthy race proves that buyers of our CT get a best-in-class aircraft."

Flight Design is a 24-year-old manufacturer 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. Three times a CT has been flown around the world.