Flight Design, which has been in receivership in Germany since February 2016, is now under new ownership, the company announced on Wednesday. Lift Air, from Eisenach, Germany, has taken over all assets and operation of the company. “I am glad that we are able to maintain the know-how of one of the world’s market leaders in the light aircraft sector and to secure it with a well-funded investor,” said Knut Rebholz, the insolvency administrator for the company, in a news release. The two parties have agreed to keep the purchase price confidential. The company will now be called Flight Design General Aviation GmbH. Tom Peghiny, president of Flight Design USA, told AVweb he’s “thrilled” with the news. His company has been kept in supply by AeroJones, a Taiwan company that has been producing the design, but Peghiny said he’s already been working with the new owners and will now be getting the light sport airplanes directly from Germany for the U.S. market.
Lift Air is a part of Lift Holding, which also owns the Rotorvox gyrocopter manufacturer. The two aviation projects will be combined in a new, modern facility at the Kindel Airport, near Eisenach, in central Germany. “We are delighted to be able to take over all of Flight Design’s assets and are confident we will soon be back as a world leader in the development and construction of light aircraft,” said Sven Lindig, managing director of Lift Holding. The new company will work to improve the company’s customer support, the new owners said, and will use modern marketing and communication concepts to optimize the customer experience. “Flight Design has some very unique products and experience in the production of all carbon-composite, very efficient light aircraft and is still present on the entire world market,” said Lars Joerges, the new managing director of the company. “We want to invest in development of those products.” Peghiny said Flight Design USA is not at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh this week, but he looks forward to returning to the show next year.
