Start here
A few places to begin, from the aircraft’s story to the people who fly it.
Meet the aircraft
The CTLS is a member of Flight Design’s CT family. It combines a strut-free high wing, tricycle landing gear and a side-by-side cabin, with composite construction and a Rotax 912 ULS engine. A ballistic parachute is part of the design described by VSKYLABS. The X-Plane product includes analog and G1000 cockpit variants.
Aircraft background
VSKYLABS · Read more ↗Released product and variants
Two CTLS aircraft are included, with analog and G1000 cockpits. The MSFS CTSL is a separate aircraft model.
CTLS · VSKYLABS · X-Plane 11 · X-Plane 12
VSKYLABS · Read more ↗Into the cockpit
YouTube FlightDesign CT · 4 min ·
Flight Design CTLS Cockpit View Landing
A brief CTLS landing video collected on a Flight Design-themed channel.
Real aircraft · Flight Design CTLS
Watch on YouTube ↗Preview images are served by AirframeDB. Videos open on YouTube only when you choose to watch.
Meet Flight Design CTLS
The CTLS is a member of Flight Design’s CT family. It combines a strut-free high wing, tricycle landing gear and a side-by-side cabin, with composite construction and a Rotax 912 ULS engine. A ballistic parachute is part of the design described by VSKYLABS.
The X-Plane product includes analog and G1000 cockpit variants. The CTSL is a separate model represented in Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Flight Design CT family
Flight Design → · Explore the family →
Flight Design CTLS
VSKYLABS · VSKYLABS Aerospace Simulations Aircraft Center: VSKYLABS Flight Design CTLS ↗CTLS analog
VSKYLABS · VSKYLABS Aerospace Simulations Aircraft Center: VSKYLABS Flight Design CTLS ↗VSKYLABS · X-Plane 11 · X-Plane 12 →CTLS G1000
VSKYLABS · VSKYLABS Aerospace Simulations Aircraft Center: VSKYLABS Flight Design CTLS ↗VSKYLABS · X-Plane 11 · X-Plane 12 →Aircraft type designators
Use the code for the model you are flying. The linked authority lists the applicable aircraft.
History & design
The 2020 Sport Edition
Flight Design’s 2020 update revised the interior and cowling and aimed to reduce empty weight. It continued the CTLS concept for private flying, clubs and schools with a carbon/aramid cabin and cantilever wing.
Flight Design · CTLS 2020 Sport Edition ↗CTLS 2020 Sport Edition: manufacturer technical table
CTLS and CTLSi engine options
The manufacturer offers a carburetted Rotax 912ULS in the CTLS and a fuel-injected 912iS in the CTLSi, both rated at 100 hp. Engine and national certification configuration remain important parts of the aircraft’s identity.
Flight Design · CTLS 2020 Sport Edition ↗CTLS 2020 Sport Edition: manufacturer technical table
Systems & details
Published limits depend on configuration
The manufacturer’s table distinguishes 472.5 kg and 600 kg takeoff configurations. It also notes that the installed recovery system and national rules can limit the usable never-exceed speed below the demonstrated figure. A generic CTLS label does not select those limits.
In your simulator
Systems, equipment and documentation for each developer’s aircraft.
X-Plane 11 · X-Plane 12CTLS
VSKYLABS · Released
CTLS
VSKYLABS · Released
Manuals & resources
Find your next read
Choose a topic for a short introduction and a link to the original source. Simulator references identify the developer and edition they cover.
Simulator documentation
Released product and variantsCTLS · VSKYLABS · X-Plane 11 · X-Plane 12
Two CTLS aircraft are included, with analog and G1000 cockpits. The MSFS CTSL is a separate aircraft model.
Official developer / designated-store reference · checked 2026-09-14
VSKYLABS · Read the source ↗Read the original documentation from the people who created it. Manuals open on their publisher’s website.
Developer documentation
VSKYLABS Aerospace Simulations Aircraft Center: VSKYLABS Flight Design CTLSVSKYLABS · Official developer / designated-store reference · checked 2026-09-14 VSKYLABS Flight Design CTLS - LSA add-on for X-Plane Flight Simulator.VSKYLABS · Official developer / designated-store reference · checked 2026-09-14Type designator
ICAO Doc 8643 — aircraft type designatorsInternational Civil Aviation Organization · Public search data retrieved 2026-09-14; authority update 2026-09-03Manufacturer aircraft information
CTLS 2020 Sport EditionFlight Design · CTLS 2020 Sport Edition: manufacturer technical tableBuilt-in force-feedback profiles
Read the documentary basis, editable starting settings and remaining questions for the aircraft you fly. Each explanation refers to the exact profile revision shown.
Catalogue programme-20261022-v1 · 2 profile choices
VSKYLABS Flight Design CTLS
VSKYLABS · Free and Pro · Revision 4 · Inherited starting point
X-Plane 12
VSKYLABS Flight Design CTLS: The stabilator/flaperon arrangement motivates reversible stick resistance.
Flight Design CTLS
Free and Pro · Revision 2 · Partial review
X-Plane 12 · X-Plane 11
Flight Design CTLS: The stabilator/flaperon arrangement motivates reversible stick resistance.
VSKYLABS Flight Design CTLS
VSKYLABS Flight Design CTLS: The stabilator/flaperon arrangement motivates reversible stick resistance.
Aircraft and simulator scope
- VSKYLABS Flight Design CTLS · VSKYLABS · X-Plane 12 · Add-on starting point
The simulator model and controls
The CTLS is a member of Flight Design’s CT family. It combines a strut-free high wing, tricycle landing gear and a side-by-side cabin, with composite construction and a Rotax 912 ULS engine. A ballistic parachute is part of the design described by VSKYLABS.
This profile selects VSKYLABS Flight Design CTLS for X-Plane 12.
How this profile feels
The stabilator/flaperon arrangement motivates reversible stick resistance. Spring resistance builds with the selected airspeed response. A separate aerodynamic term adds speed-dependent control load.
The pitch trim tab supplies pressure relief; its actuator details retain their source conflict. Valid trim provides the configured pressure relief. Autopilot following is off.
Controls and trim
The CTLS manual describes manual controls, an all-moving stabilator with trim tab and a flaperon mixer. Its electrical and mechanical trim descriptions retain an actuator-documentation conflict. The flaps select negative and positive positions, while the fixed tricycle gear and symmetric hand brake serve ground operation.
The selected implementation
The VSKYLABS CTLS combines an all-moving stabilator and trim tab with a flaperon mixer. Analog and G1000 cockpits share the airframe. The POH mentions both electric trim and mechanical wheels without resolving their exact actuator relationship.
About the values
The gains are normalized profile settings. They describe the chosen effect balance; hand force depends on the device and its output limits. IAS references are tuning values rather than operating limits. Physical acceptance of this revision remains pending.
Documentary review and sources
These decisions describe the documentary basis and remaining gaps for this revision. Aircraft documentation and a starting setting describe different kinds of evidence.
Aircraft and variant
InheritedThis profile selects VSKYLABS Flight Design CTLS for X-Plane 12.
Flight controls
InheritedThe CTLS manual describes manual controls, an all-moving stabilator with trim tab and a flaperon mixer. Its electrical and mechanical trim descriptions retain an actuator-documentation conflict. The flaps select negative and positive positions, while the fixed tricycle gear and symmetric hand brake serve ground operation.
Trim
InheritedThe pitch trim tab supplies pressure relief; its actuator details retain their source conflict. Pitch authority 0.3 provides load relief and permitted centre movement; roll authority is 0.
Autopilot and stability
InheritedAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel.
Equipment
InheritedThe VSKYLABS CTLS combines an all-moving stabilator and trim tab with a flaperon mixer. Analog and G1000 cockpits share the airframe. The POH mentions both electric trim and mechanical wheels without resolving their exact actuator relationship.
Speeds and limits
InheritedThe indicated-speed references set the profile response scale; they are separate from aircraft operating limits.
Simulator integration
InheritedThe profile targets xplane12. Add-on-specific controls use only the supported references configured by this profile.
Force-feedback settings
InheritedThe settings define the profile’s effect balance. Device output limits affect physical hand force.
Starting settings and their rationale
These configured values are starting estimates. The explanations describe what each setting controls; physical validation appears separately below.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring strength | Starting value0.74 | What it controls and whyThe stabilator/flaperon arrangement motivates reversible stick resistance. The baseline spring is 0.74. Its low-speed blend reaches baseline strength at 45 KIAS. |
| Master force gain | Starting value0.85 | What it controls and whyScales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits. |
| Profile force gain | Starting value0.8 | What it controls and whyThe aerodynamic-load gain is 0.8 with an indicated-speed reference of 105 KIAS. This supplies speed-dependent loading alongside the spring. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value105 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS reference for aerodynamic loading. It is an estimate, not published cruise TAS or a flight limit. |
| Spring response reference speed | Starting value45 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed blend reaches baseline strength; high-speed stiffening also uses it. |
| Aileron force scale | Starting value0.72 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.72 and 1, respectively. They set the aerodynamic axis balance. No custom spring-travel curve is enabled. |
| Elevator force scale | Starting value1.0 | What it controls and whyScales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings. |
| Trim feel | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyRetained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement. |
| Trim relief | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyAllows trim relief with supported control law and valid telemetry. Axis authorities set its amount. |
| Autopilot follow | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel. |
| Autopilot neutral hold | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyPermits centering hold during a supported AP state, separate from following a moving target. |
| Output force limit | Starting value0.55 | What it controls and whyCaps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate. |
All 44 starting settings and their rationale
The settings define the profile’s effect balance. Device output limits affect physical hand force.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring strength | Starting value0.74 | What it controls and whyThe stabilator/flaperon arrangement motivates reversible stick resistance. The baseline spring is 0.74. Its low-speed blend reaches baseline strength at 45 KIAS. |
| Spring deadband | Starting value0.04 | What it controls and whySets travel around the centre before the baseline spring resists. Smaller values engage it sooner. |
| Profile force gain | Starting value0.8 | What it controls and whyThe aerodynamic-load gain is 0.8 with an indicated-speed reference of 105 KIAS. This supplies speed-dependent loading alongside the spring. |
| Master force gain | Starting value0.85 | What it controls and whyScales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits. |
| QBlend Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyAllows baseline spring strength to rise with indicated airspeed where the control law permits it. |
| QSpring Minimum Factor | Starting value0.55 | What it controls and whySets low-speed spring strength as a fraction of baseline when blending is enabled. One keeps full strength. |
| QSpring Start Knots | Starting value10 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed spring blend starts rising. This is a feel threshold, not a flight limit. |
| Spring response reference speed | Starting value45 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed blend reaches baseline strength; high-speed stiffening also uses it. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value105 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS reference for aerodynamic loading. It is an estimate, not published cruise TAS or a flight limit. |
| Airspeed spring stiffening gain | Starting value0.15 | What it controls and whyThe high-speed spring-stiffening gain is 0.15. It strengthens the permitted spring response above 45 KIAS, with the squared-speed ratio capped at 5. |
| Airspeed spring stiffening limit | Starting value5 | What it controls and whyLimits the squared airspeed ratio used for high-speed spring stiffening; it is not a device-force cap. |
| Aileron force scale | Starting value0.72 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.72 and 1, respectively. They set the aerodynamic axis balance. No custom spring-travel curve is enabled. |
| Elevator force scale | Starting value1.0 | What it controls and whyScales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings. |
| Output force limit | Starting value0.55 | What it controls and whyCaps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate. |
| Trim feel | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyRetained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement. |
| Trim relief | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyAllows trim relief with supported control law and valid telemetry. Axis authorities set its amount. |
| Elevator Authority | Starting value0.3 | What it controls and whyThe pitch trim tab supplies pressure relief; its actuator details retain their source conflict. Pitch authority 0.3 provides load relief and permitted centre movement; roll authority is 0. |
| Aileron Authority | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyScales supported roll-trim relief and permitted centre movement. Zero removes roll response. |
| Force Trim Enabled | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyEnables local force trim, separate from aircraft-owned trim and add-on integration qualification. |
| GLoad Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyAllows load-factor changes to modify permitted spring laws. Passive fly-by-wire feel can suppress it. |
| Rate Damping Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables rate damping with the configured coefficients and control law. |
| Autopilot follow | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel. |
| Autopilot follow authority | Starting value0.1 | What it controls and whySets admitted AP-follow gain, not a percentage of travel. Runtime ownership and input limits still apply. |
| Autopilot neutral hold | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyPermits centering hold during a supported AP state, separate from following a moving target. |
| Autopilot neutral hold strength | Starting value0.6 | What it controls and whySets admitted AP neutral-hold strength; inactive while neutral hold is disabled. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables aerodynamic cues; each still needs nonzero strength and its simulator conditions. |
| Gain | Starting value0.35 | What it controls and whySets stall-buffet strength. Zero removes the cue without changing simulator stalls or warnings. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets high-Mach buffet strength; onset and full-strength thresholds are separate. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets flap buffet at the configured position and speed gates. Flap movement texture is separate. |
| Maximum flap index | Starting value4 | What it controls and whySets the final flap index for detent normalization. UP plus three detents uses maximum index3. |
| Minimum flap index | Starting value2 | What it controls and whySets the first flap detent that admits buffet; this is a handle index, not degrees. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets gear aerodynamic buffet; movement and ground-contact cues are separate. |
| Shaker Enabled | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyPermits shaker at supported warning conditions; the switch does not establish aircraft equipment. |
| Stick shaker amplitude | Starting value0.5 | What it controls and whySets triggered shaker strength; inactive while the shaker feature is disabled. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables ground effects; each still needs its own strength and contact or motion telemetry. |
| Gain | Starting value0.4 | What it controls and whySets rolling texture strength, modified by speed, surface and undercarriage configuration. |
| Gain | Starting value0.25 | What it controls and whySets gear-bump texture during ground motion, separate from touchdown impact. |
| Gain | Starting value0.65 | What it controls and whySets landing-impact strength; landing telemetry and response shape determine the pulse. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets reverse-thrust vibration with valid reverser and engine conditions. Zero removes the cue. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables engine cues with nonzero settings and valid running-engine telemetry. |
| Gain | Starting value0.12 | What it controls and whySets estimated engine vibration using configured telemetry and response, not measured cockpit vibration. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables accessory cues with configured strengths and observed accessory movement. |
| Gain | Starting value0.12 | What it controls and whySets texture from observed flap movement; a command without movement does not establish the cue. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets texture from observed gear movement, separate from aerodynamic and touchdown effects. |
Limits and open questions
- Published CAS limits are not KIAS. Classic simplified AP and native G1000 AP differ; neither provides a qualified physical-follow contract.
- Physical and installed-aircraft acceptance deferred. Gains, damping, frequency envelopes and airspeed references are estimates.
- No unqualified AP following, trim actuator demand, failure behavior or dynamic equipment detection.
- Metadata identity repair only; force modules, matching and simulator scope unchanged.
Physical validation
No physical force validation is recorded in this public catalogue for this revision. Documentary review and software checks do not establish how a particular device feels.
Discuss this aircraft (0)
Questions, observations and useful sources from the community.
No published discussions yet. Bring a question or share a useful source.
Open aircraft discussions →Content expanded · What’s new
Something missing or a source that needs attention?
Suggest a correction ↗
