Flight Design, the Connecticut-based importer of Czech-built F2 CS-23 certified light sport aircraft (LSA), announced that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has submitted the documents to the FAA for the plane to be validated in the United States.
“This is the first important step in bringing the F2 CS-23 to the United States,” Tom Peghiny, president of Flight Design USA, said in a statement. “We expect the certified version of the F2 to be even more popular than the S-LSA version, which was accepted by the FAA in June 2021.”
Flight Design USA is known for its imports of LSAs, beginning with those classified as ultralights and later LSAs known as CTLS. The carbon fiber aircraft, with its relatively wide cockpit and large windows, quickly became a favorite in the LSA market in the United States.
The F2 series is the latest model from Flight Design. It is slightly larger than the CT versions. It has a larger wingspan and the cabin is wider, taller and a few inches longer, which will likely make entry and exit less of an advanced yoga pose for pilots of a certain vintage.
The F2 features an all-composite airframe, passive stall and rotation resistance, and advanced safety systems including an airframe emergency parachute, panel-mounted AMSAFE airbags, and an all-Garmin avionics suite. G3X with electronic stability protection (ESP).
“This is the first important step in bringing the F2 CS-23 to the United States.”
Tom Peghiny, President of Flight Design USA
The Flight Design F2 CS-23 version was certified by EASA in December. CS-23 is the equivalent of FAA Part 23, the certification standard used for general aviation aircraft in the United States
The validation process allows EASA and other civil aviation authorities to submit certification packages to the FAA for aircraft already certified under their authority, this process leads to certification of the aircraft to States -United.
According to Flight Design, the recent update and rewrite of Part 23 and CS-23 has improved the harmonization of the two standards and is generally accepted worldwide.
Flight Design anticipates that the VFR F2 CS-23 will be attractive to flight schools looking for a more affordable option to add a new technology trainer to their fleet. Additionally, Flight Design plans to bring an IFR version of the F2 to the US and Canada, with proper certification of course.
In the meantime, Flight Design is preparing to launch F2 production in Sumperk in the Czech Republic. The factory was temporarily closed due to the invasion of Ukraine in early March this year. Flight Design says the factory is intact and a small team is currently on site producing spare parts.
