Flight Design Bolsters Growth with Virazh in Kazakh Venture

FLIGHT DESIGN TAKES OFF IN KAZAKHSTAN
13. September 2024News
The Joint Venture with Virazh FDCT to Boost Aircraft Production

September 12th, 2024, Eisenach

Germany Eisenach, Germany and Almaty, Kazakhstan – Flight Design, a global leader in ultralight and general aircraft manufacturing, is thrilled to announce a significant expansion of its operations through its joint venture with Kazakh partner Virazh. This strategic collaboration marks a major milestone in the company’s growth and solidifies its position as a key player in the global aviation industry.

The GER-KAZ joint venture is rapidly gaining momentum, with production tooling already en route to Kazakhstan. A groundbreaking moment will arrive in early September 2024, when the first CT model aircraft will be showcased at a high-level political summit attended by German and Kazakh dignitaries. This public unveiling signifies the strong commitment of both nations to fostering economic cooperation and technological advancement.

Demonstrating the venture’s swift progress, the first customer delivery is scheduled for October 2024, a testament to the efficiency and expertise of the joint team. Production is set to accelerate, with a target of 30 CT aircraft to be manufactured in Kazakhstan during 2025. To accommodate the growing demand, Flight Design and Virazh are planning to construct a new factory, slated to commence operations in the third quarter of 2025. This state-of-the-art facility will initially focus on the CT model line but will eventually expand to encompass the production of the renowned F-Series aircraft.

“We are excited about the immense potential of this joint venture,” said Daniel Günther, CEO of Flight Design. “The collaboration with Virazh has been exceptional, and we are confident that together we will achieve remarkable results. Kazakhstan offers a strategic location and a supportive business environment that perfectly align with our growth strategy.”

“Over the 25 years of its activity, Virazh has examples of successful implementation of similar projects in Kazakhstan. Last year Virazh mastered the production of cars of our segment-forming brand, with which we have been cooperating for more than 17 years, at the facilities of our assembly plant and moved on to local assembly of the entire model range,” said Mr. Dmitriy Vassilyev, a board member of Virazh.

Mr. Vasiliev added further: “Thus, by combining the efforts of our teams with Flight Design, we will be able to create a highly efficient, high-tech and competitive production. The implementation of our joint project will become a powerful catalyst for the development of aviation technologies and stimulate the development of the aircraft manufacturing market in Kazakhstan, and will also strengthen the already leading positions of the Flight Design brand aircraft on the world market. We are pleased to expand our collection of exclusive products and brands and are ready to contribute to mutually beneficial German-Kazakh cooperation.”

The joint venture leverages the strengths of both companies. While spare part inventory will continue to be centrally managed in Germany, the production process will be spearheaded by a skilled Ukrainian team that brings invaluable expertise from the original Flight Design factory. This combination of experience and local talent ensures the highest quality standards are maintained.

The establishment of Flight Design Kazakhstan represents a significant step forward for both companies and the aviation industry as a whole. It underscores the growing importance of international cooperation and the shared commitment to innovation and excellence.