German light aircraft manufacturer Flight Design is to unveil a proof of concept version of its new four-seat piston single at April's Aero Friedrichshafen general aviation show.

However, before the C4 makes it debut at the annual event on the German shores of Lake Constance, Flight Design is asking for input from its current and prospective customer base and from its worldwide dealer network.

"We want to create the optimal four-seat aircraft for our customers," says Flight Design's chief technical officer Oliver Reinhardt. "Engineers often put emphasis on certain features on a new design, while a flight school or a private owner might want something we did not consider, so we are putting our concept of the C4 design out for the public to participate in the process."

The Stuttgart-based company, which produces the CT series of light sport aircraft, says it has been working on the C4 "for several years".

After July's AirVenture show in Oshkosh the design will be frozen and the first prototype unveiled eight months later at the annual Sun n' Fun show in Florida. European approval is earmarked for late 2012, with US certification to follow soon after.

Source: Flight International