N523CH

N523CH is a Flight Design CT2K, a single-engine piston aircraft operated by RIES FARMS LLC. SkyMeter has tracked 224 flights totalling 163 hours of airtime via ADS-B. The most frequent segment is KGAI to KGAI. Service window in our records spans 383 days. Of those flights, 22 (9.8%) carry at least one detected incident — go-around, unstable approach, stall warning, or runway excursion. The Flight Design CT2K has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,320 lb, light wake category.

About the Flight Design CT2K

The Flight Design CT is a German-designed, two-seat light sport aircraft that became one of the most successful LSA models worldwide following the category's introduction in 2004. Built by Flight Design in Germany and later Ukraine, the CT series features a distinctive high-wing configuration with a bubble canopy, composite construction, and a side-by-side seating arrangement that appeals to both flight training operations and recreational pilots. The aircraft's efficient design allows it to cruise at around 115 knots while burning just 4-5 gallons per hour, making it an economical choice for flight schools and private owners alike.

The CT2K variant, which corresponds to the FDF2 designator, represents the company's refined production model optimized to meet the FAA's 1,320-pound maximum takeoff weight limit for light sport aircraft. Powered by Rotax 912-series engines producing 100 horsepower, the CT offers modern avionics, excellent visibility, and handling characteristics that instructors praise for primary training. Its stall speed of just 37 knots with flaps deployed makes it forgiving for student pilots, while the 138-knot never-exceed speed provides adequate performance for cross-country flying.

The type found particular success in North America where the sport pilot certificate created new demand for simpler, more affordable aircraft that don't require a medical certificate. Flight Design's CT series competed directly with other popular LSA models like the Czech Sport Aircraft SportCruiser and Tecnam P92, carving out a significant market share through the late 2000s and 2010s. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.