The Original Vision of the Vision

columns | diary Dale Klapmeier is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of CIrrus Aircraft in Duluth, MN THE PERSONAL JET IS BORN #1 The original vision of the Vision Running up to the first Cirrus SF50 jet delivery in less than one year, our new monthly diary will have members of the development team giving insights on how the only Personal Jet remaining in the market is created Cirrus, we know there is a way to avoid that From the interior shape and materials TEXT Dale Klapmeier compromise as we have engineered the used, to large windows throughout, to the Vision SF50 to be simple, safe and even fun placement of little details in the seats and assion for flying and aviation has to fly. the cabin door, the Vision SF50 Personal driven Cirrus Aircraft since our first Features such as pressurization, de- Jet sets a new bar in comfort for everyone Pideas about new airplanes more ice system and even the interior climate in the aircraft. And of course the Vision than 30 years ago. Then, as now, we wanted controls are all designed to be as simple as SF50 is equipped with a Cirrus Airframe not just to build »a new airplane«, but also possible. All major systems are integrated Parachute System (CAPS), which has pro- to reimagine what an airplane was suppo- in the Cirrus Perspective G3000-based ven itself as a life-saver many times. sed to be as seen through the eyes of the flight deck giving the pilot quick and easy We have been dreaming of this new air- owner and pilot. access to flight information – exactly when plane since … well, since before we started Those ideas initially took flight with a they need it. the company! But it was not until 2006 very fast, sleek kit aircraft, the VK-30. With In the same way, the cabin has been that the reality of the program actually the VK-30 we certainly succeeded in buil- carefully designed with both the emerged publically. Recall that ding the most stunning airplane on the pilot and passengers in mind. Cirrus Aircraft was growing ramp, but we also learned a lot about all at quite a clip then, delive- the other aspects of designing and ring over 700 SR20 and SR22s building an all-new air- a year. Deposits for the Vision frame. In fact, we lear- SF50 were being taken and the ned that these other order book was rapidly growing. V1, aspects that seemed the first Vision SF50 prototype, flew to have been secondary in on July 3, 2008. It was one of those legacy aircraft became primary to us: iconic days at Cirrus. incorporating the latest materials SPECIFICATIONS But we all know what happened next. and avionics technologies, manda- Cirrus Vision SF50 No part of the business at Cirrus Aircraft ting »simple« and »easy to fly«, prio- Wingspan 38.3 ft was immune to the global financial crises ritizing pilot and passenger comfort, and Length 30.9 ft that pursued, the jet included. SR20 and most important, an unwavering, uncom- Height 10.5 ft SR22 deliveries dropped to one third of promising, unrelenting focus on safety. Seats 5 + 2 peak production from just a few months Fast-forward three decades and almost Basic Empty Weight 3700 lbs prior. Although progress slowed on the 6000 »Cirri« later, today’s SR20 and SR22 Vision SF50 program, the Cirrus team con- MTOW 6000 lbs embody those learned design values and tinued baseline design and engineering Usable Fuel 288 gal/1960 lbs principles. More important, the VK-30, related tasks in preparation for renewed Engine/Thrust 1 x Williams FJ33/ ST-50, SR20, SR22, SR22T and every other 1800 lbs funding – funding which did finally come. Cirrus of any type ever made has brought Take-off Groundroll 1615 ft In April 2012, the Vision SF50 program us to the cusp of another watershed design received full funding for the certification Max. Operating Altitude FL 280 and the future of General Aviation – the and production of this revolutionary air- VMaximum Cruise 300 KTAS Cirrus Vision SF50 Personal Jet. craft. Our team has been full steam ahead Landing Groundroll 1245 ft »Holistic« is the best way I can descri- ever since. Conforming test aircraft are Price 1 960 000 US-Dollar be our thinking for the Vision Jet with a flying, production tools are in place and focus on two key attributes: simplicity and Manufacturer Cirrus Aircraft we are actively preparing for the first client 4515 Taylor Circle comfort. These key components create an Duluth, MN 55811 deliveries scheduled for the end of 2015. entirely new market segment: the Personal USA Excitement for the Vision SF50 just conti- Jet Category. The reality is that while most Phone +1 (218) 529 72 00 nues to go, but I don’t think today we can associate any jet with speed and presti- Internet www.cirrusaircraft.com truly see what a game-changing airplane ge, they also are perceived as complex. At the Vision Jet is going to be. Originally published in #1.2015 • www.fliegermagazin.de.

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