Today’s Top Pick is a 2019 Cirrus SF50 G2 Vision Jet.

Transitioning to jets is a big deal for any pilot, whether you fly for the airlines, the military, or your own one-ship family transport organization. For that last group, the change from piston power to a jet is striking, especially when you are flying it yourself as a single pilot. The workload might grow, but so do the rewards.

I had the good fortune to fly a Vision Jet for an article I wrote in 2017, and what I noticed first was how roomy the cabin was. It felt like my family would be as comfortable there as they are in the den at home. Next was the extra speed. Destinations that normally were two hours away at 150 ktas suddenly were just one hour away. I immediately understood the appeal and was not surprised to hear that Cirrus delivered its 500th Vision Jet last fall. The fleet is large enough that I encounter the jets regularly on the ramp at Essex County Airport near my New Jersey home.

This Vision Jet has 760 hours on the airframe and on its Williams FJ33-5A engine since new. The full FADEC engine has a 4,000-hour TBO and has been managed under the Williams International TAPS Blue maintenance program.

The panel features the Garmin G3000 integrated flight deck with  the Cirrus Perspective+ Touchscreen interface, synthetic vision, Iridium satellite communications, TCAS, real-time weather radar, enhanced vision systems, Jeppesen ChartView, and more.

Pilots interested in moving up the performance ladder from a Cirrus SR22 or other fast piston models should consider this Cirrus Vision Jet, which was designed with transitioning piston PICs in mind, and is available for $2.9 million on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

• FLYING Magazine: Cirrus Delivers 500th SF50 Vision Jet
• FLYING Magazine: Verijet Adds 3 Cirrus SF50 G2+ Vision Jets to Fleet
• FLYING Magazine: We Fly: Cirrus Vision Jet G2+
• FLYING Magazine: Cirrus Adds Second Vision Jet Simulator
• Plane & Pilot: Cirrus Launches Generation Two SF50 Vision Jet
• Plane & Pilot: 2019 Planes Of The Year: Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet G2 And Piper 100
• The Aviation Consumer: Cirrus Jet G2+: More Power, Gogo Wi-Fi

The post This 2019 Cirrus SF50 G2 Vision Jet Is a Step Up and an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Like grand-touring automobiles, these personal jets have targeted the well-to-do traveler, intent on covering sizable distances with a companion and some luggage. At the same time, manufacturers hedged their bets by touting the category’s suitability for limited military roles, such as training and utility duties.

Few mini-jets ever reached series production. French manufacturer Morane-Saulnier saw some success with its MS.760 Paris jet in the 1960s. More recently, Eclipse Aviation flew its Concept Jet prototype but, like most other modern efforts, ultimately settled on a larger six-place design.

Polish manufacturer Flaris appears to be the only company with the potential to buck the trend and bring its contender to production. Naming it the LAR 01, Flaris introduced the small, 4,079-pound (maximum takeoff weight), single-engine jet in 2013 and conducted the first flight in early 2019. While it technically has five seats, it is perhaps more accurately described as a four-plus-one, as, like a sports sedan, the fifth seat is nestled between the two back-seat passengers.

The overall airframe layout is logical. The single Williams FJ33-5 engine needs to be placed on centerline, and to avoid robbing internal volume with the engine and ducting, Flaris followed the lead of Eclipse and Cirrus with a dorsal engine pod. To separate the LAR 01’s tail surfaces from hot engine exhaust, Flaris opted for a “U-tail” with two small vertical stabilizers at each tip performing yaw duties. 

Whereas the overall airframe layout is predictable, the execution is intriguing. Flowing lines define the fuselage, from a constant arc along the belly to the organic window and door shapes up front. Faced with the decision to retract the main gear into the wing or the lower aft fuselage, Flaris opted for the latter, enabling a thin, efficient wing design.

Flaris touts an 18-to-1 glide ratio, besting the 14.7-to-1 ratio of the Cirrus Vision Jet and actually matching that of early Schweizer gliders. This abundance of aerodynamic efficiency also provides healthy returns during takeoff and landing. The LAR 01 requires just 656 feet to take off and 820 feet to land. Interestingly, Flaris has designed and approved the jet for operation from grass fields, a feature not commonly seen among jet-powered aircraft that aren’t built by Pilatus.

The stall speed of the LAR 01 is a meager 62 knots, enabling the pilot to dissipate a significant amount of energy prior to touchdown in the event of a forced landing. Alternatively, they can deploy the parachute as in the Cirrus.

Rather than utilizing a traditional thrust lever mounted atop a center console, Flaris has installed a single control stick in that position, with dual thrust levers mounted on both outside edges of the glareshield. Accordingly, each front-seat passenger would use their inside arm to control the jet and their outside arm to actuate their thrust lever.

To date, only one LAR 01 has been built, and it appears to be progressing through flight testing. However, a second airframe has been completed as an unmanned aircraft and was displayed at the 2023 Dubai Airshow following a United Arab Emirates defense firm purchasing a 50 percent stake in Flaris. Whether that deal will affect the development and certification of the LAR 01 remains to be seen.

The post Flaris LAR 01 Still Has Potential appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The FAA-certified Level D Vision Jet simulator is intended for use in the Cirrus’ flight training program as well as to “to serve the company’s expansion plans.” Training activities at the Center include initial type rating and recurrent training for new and pre-owned aircraft owners. While it also provides training for the company’s SR-series, Knoxville is the only location that offers SF50 type ratings.

• READ MORE: We Fly: Cirrus Vision Jet G2+

“Cirrus Aircraft is dedicated to providing world-class flight training and we are continually investing in the Vision Center campus to expand our capacity and offer ultramodern training resources,” said Cirrus Aircraft president of customer experience Todd Simmons.

The Knoxville Vision Center, which has been a Cirrus factory service center since 2016, currently offers an experience center, delivery center, flight training center, factory service center, and flight center with a hangar complex. Cirrus noted that it plans to further expand the campus next year.

• READ MORE: Cirrus Vision Jet Wins Collier Trophy

Winner of the 2017 Robert J. Collier Trophy, the single-engine Vision Jet features safety systems such as the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) and Safe Return emergency autoland. The most recent version of the Williams FJ33-5A-powered jet, the G2+, offers a top cruise speed of 311 knots, 1,275 nm range, and 1,350 pound payload. Cirrus reports that the current SF50 fleet is made up of more than 500 aircraft with 1,055 people holding type ratings.

The post Cirrus Adds Second Vision Jet Simulator appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2020 Cirrus SF50 G2 Vision Jet.

The Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet caused a sensation at its unveiling more than a decade ago and continues to do so with this improved G2 model. Designed as a path for pilot-owners to step up from piston aircraft to a jet, the SF50 G2 offers more travel options through enhanced speed and range. Its spacious, pressurized cabin represents a significant upgrade in comfort when compared with other single-engine piston and turboprop airplanes.

This SF50 G2 has 325 hours on the airframe and its Williams International FJ33 turbofan engine, which has a 1,846-pound thrust rating. Other highlights include the Safe Return Autoland system, Cargo X-Tend for additional cargo capacity, and Flight Stream 510 connectivity.

The aircraft’s Special Edition Arrivée interior includes executive seating with a center console, two-tone albatross and obsidian premium leather seats with white Arrivée accent stitching, Alcantara headliner with carbon fiber accents, and granite premium carpet. The aircraft’s Elite avionics package includes digital real-time weather radar, enhanced vision system, Surface Watch, traffic collision avoidance system, terrain awareness, an additional AHRS, ADS-B weather and traffic, and an additional digital transponder.

If your business and family travel plans would benefit from pressurized comfort,  300-knot cruise speed, and 31,000-foot service ceiling, you should take a closer look at this 2020 Cirrus SF50 G2 Vision Jet, which is available on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Financial Group. For more information, email info@flyingfinancial.com.

• FLYING Magazine: We Fly: Cirrus Vision Jet G2+
• FLYING Magazine: Verijet Adds 3 Cirrus SF50 G2+ Vision Jets to Fleet
• FLYING Magazine: Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet: Factory Tour
• Plane & Pilot: 2019 Planes Of The Year: Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet G2
• Plane & Pilot: Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet Wins Collier Trophy
• The Aviation Consumer: Cirrus Vision Jet G2: Higher, Quieter, Safer

The post Today’s Top Aircraft For Sale Pick: 2020 Cirrus SF50 G2 Vision Jet appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Cirrus announced the news on Wednesday morning, along with the compatibility of the Cirrus IQ app with the Vision Jet, allowing pilots to enjoy increased connectivity with the airplane whether they are physically close to it or not.

“Cirrus Aircraft incorporates intelligent and award-winning innovations into its ecosystem to make flying simpler, safer, and more approachable for the pilot and passengers,” said Zean Nielsen, CEO of Cirrus Aircraft. “The award-winning Vision Jet is a testament to our team’s ongoing dedication to advancing the personal aviation industry. Over the years, the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) and Safe Return Autoland have revolutionized the personal aviation industry. Now with Auto Radar and Cirrus IQ connectivity, pilots have more situational awareness inflight and can streamline the preflight process.”

Auto Radar Advantages

The Auto Radar functionality comes as an upgrade to Garmin’s customized GWX 8000 weather radar, utilizing a 10-inch antenna in the nose cone of the Vision Jet. This was an update from the previous GWX 75 radar used in the first-generation SF50.

Auto Radar builds on the “smart” features and now allows the pilot to select a range at which the system automatically scans the wedge ahead of the airplane. After a few passes—each consisting of scans at a multitude of tilt positions—it builds and displays a composite picture of any convection ahead. It profiles volumetrically any areas of precipitation to deliver this real-time view.

Cirrus IQ Functions

The Cirrus IQ app has been enjoyed by SR-series pilots for a couple of years now, with its ability to connect the pilot to the airplane—and for the airplane to automatically download data postflight. With the addition of LTE hardware on the Vision Jet, SF50 pilots can now take advantage of the ability to see fuel status and TKS solution and oxygen levels, regardless of how far they are from the airplane.

This is no small thing when you—for example—have shut down the airplane prior to when the line service person approaches to take your fuel order, and you forgot to check one last time. 

The hardware to power Cirrus IQ is standard on new Vision Jet G2+ aircraft, while Auto Radar comes as part of the Enhanced Awareness Package option. The Cirrus IQ app is available to all owners with an active JetStream account.

The post Cirrus Vision Jet Gets Auto Radar, Cirrus IQ appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The report stemmed from a regulatory filing accessed by FLYING. Within the filing is language indicating that the company does not intend to register with the Securities Exchange Commission nor solicit U.S. investors:

“This announcement (and the information contained herein) is for information purposes only and shall not constitute or form part of any offer to issue or sell, or the solicitation of any offer to purchase, subscribe for or otherwise acquire, any securities of the Company in the United States (including its territories and possessions, any state of the United States and the District of Columbia) or any other jurisdiction were such offer or sale would be unlawful. The Company believes that it is a “foreign private issuer” (“FPI”), as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), and intends to conduct its business so far as possible to maintain its status as a FPI. 

“The securities of the Company (the “Securities”) have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered, sold, resold, pledged, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly, into or within the United States, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any relevant state or other jurisdiction of the United States. There has been and will be no public offering of the Securities in the United States.”

FLYING reached out to Cirrus for comment, and received the following statement from the company, which is in a quiet period after the filing:

“From time to time, Cirrus Aircraft explores options to raise additional capital. Our current work, made possible by the contributions of the Cirrus Aircraft team, has positioned the company as a global leader in personal aviation. A natural next step in that journey is exploring additional business and capital funding structures that enable even larger and more stable growth ahead. 

“Raising additional capital will allow us to further invest in our people, new product development, production capabilities, facilities and efficiencies, as well as enable and expand global service capabilities and strengthen our IT and business infrastructure. 

“We do not have a definitive timetable for our listing plan as our listing application is still under the vetting process of the Hong Kong regulators. Further announcements will be made in accordance with the listing rules of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. We stay committed to elevating our customers’ ownership experience and staff member experience for many years to come. 

“This communication does not constitute an offer of securities for sale or a solicitation of an offer to purchase securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. The securities of Cirrus Aircraft Limited (the “Company”) may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The securities of the Company have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act. The Company does not intend to register any part of the present or proposed offering in the United States.”

READ MORE: Cirrus Completes Merger With Chinese Firm CAIGA

Cirrus Aircraft merged with China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (CAIGA) in 2011 to fund and support its global expansion. CAIGA, a division of the Chinese state-owned AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) is a consortium of aerospace companies in China, including other general aviation and pilot training enterprises. CAIGA is headquartered in Zhuhai, where Cirrus manufactures aircraft for the Asian market. The Cirrus portion of AVIC General delivered 2 SR20s in the first quarter of 2023, while Cirrus Aircraft in the U.S. delivered 13 SR20s, 5 SR22s, 54 SR22Ts, and 18 SF50 Vision Jets.

The post Docs Filed for Cirrus Aircraft IPO in Hong Kong appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The milestone? Cirrus marks its 9,000th delivery of an SR-series airplane this year, and much as it did with the 7,000th delivery and 8,000th delivery, it has crafted a limited edition run of the SR series, with comprehensive owner packages and bespoke exterior and interior designs. 

The 9,000th SR Packages

“The SR Series continues to move people, businesses, and imaginations as we reach another significant delivery milestone,” said Zean Nielsen, CEO of Cirrus Aircraft, in an accompanying statement. “Our talented Xi Design Studio collected inspiration through the lens of our customers and the worldwide travel and freedom personal aviation offers. The 9,000th SR Series delivery means that 9,000 owners are living the Cirrus Life enabled by the best-selling high-performance piston aircraft in the industry for over two decades.”

The design carries two themes, according to Ivy McIver, SR series program manager. The first is the number “9” that is integrated into several places on the aircraft. The second is the color orange—incorporated into the scheme by Xi Design Studios to create four palettes: ’Balos,’ ‘Lava,’ ‘Magma,’ and ‘Santorini,’ using Sherwin-Williams paint in Lava Orange and Aegean Blue.

• READ MORE: We Fly: Cirrus SR22T 8000

The owner packages also include five Bose A30 headsets and two Garmin D2 Aviation watches, along with five-year warranty and maintenance programs for a total ownership experience.

More Cirrus Metrics

Before Simmons made it to the big announcement, he took time to review a handful of significant numbers that Cirrus has achieved over its 24-year history. Among them, the fact that those 9,000 airplanes—the SR fleet—have amassed more than 15 million flight hours—and for the past nine years, Cirrus has delivered more than 300 piston aircraft per year. In 2022, the SR series was again the top-selling piston aircraft for the 21st year in a row.

And the SF50 has had its own hit parade. As it approaches 500 deliveries this year, the Vision Jet has increased in both market share and its ability to expand the market overall. For the fourth year in a row, in 2022, it was the top-selling jet with 95 units shipped.

But the Vision Jet notched other milestones in recent months, including the first and second saves using the CAPS, or Cirrus Airframe Parachute System. For customers and pilots seeking to acquire the SF50 type rating under the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), it has dropped the minimum number of hours to enter the program from 500 to 250 in certain circumstances.

Cirrus has also added more affiliates in Europe in recent years, including the most recent addition of Orbifly, in France, in March 2023. In October 2022, it added CK Aviation in the UK, and in July 2021, Daedelus.

Sustainable Cirrus

Cirrus has been one of the first OEMs to test out unleaded fuel in its high-performance SR22 and SR22T engines—using the Continental IO-550-N, and TIO-550-K1, respectively. And ti continues to move forward with testing using GAMI’s UL100 as part of the EAGLE program to move towards unleaded fuels.

And the SF50’s Williams International FJ33 engine is all ready to run on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Cirrus was an early SAF adopter with the Vision Jet. From a noise standpoint—also very important, especially under EU skies—the Vision Jet registers between 69 and 71 decibels during flyover, according to its EASA type certificate.

The post Cirrus Marks 9,000th SR in 2023 With Limited Edition appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The system had received its certification under the FAA in August 2020, and under the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in July 2021.

Some aircraft already delivered into Brazil with the feature dormant may have it activated for use, along with new entrants imported into the country following the certification.

“Receiving ANAC certification for the Vision Jet’s Safe Return is a tremendous milestone for our Brazilian owners and operators,” said Zean Nielsen, CEO of Cirrus Aircraft. “We are excited to continue offering this award-winning safety technology throughout the world.” 

• READ MORE: We Fly: Cirrus Vision Jet G2+

Cirrus has delivered more than 450 units of the SF50 to date, with 90 in 2022. Garmin International won the Robert J. Collier Trophy for Autoland in 2020, which has yet to be deployed in an actual emergency situation in any of its applications: the Piper M600/SLS Halo, the Daher TBM 940 and TBM 960, or the Vision Jet.

The post Cirrus Secures Brazilian Approval for Autoland System appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

To help solve this, Cirrus Aircraft launched its new aircraft configurator at the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo this week. FLYING had a chance to try it out at the OEM’s chalet on the flight line—and it takes the selection process to a new level.

Available for the entire SR series—including the SR20, SR22, and SR22T—as well as the Vision Jet, the aircraft configurator allows for the potential aircraft owner to walk through the benefits of each model. Then, the configurator guides the buyer through the myriad choices available in both exterior and interior color and other elements.

The app is a great way to understand more about the airplanes on a pilot’s own time, assisting with their research in a self-propelled way.

Not buying and just imagining that you’ll fly a Cirrus someday? The configurator powers those dreams too.

The post Pilots Can Pick A Cirrus With Its New Configurator appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The AD encapsulated a previous service bulletin issued by Cirrus Aircraft Company on January 20, SB5X-90-14R1, following an inflight event in which the autopilot system improperly engaged as a part of an automated process that precedes a deployment of the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). 

The CAPS was not improperly actuated in any of the events noted by the company or the agency. In one instance, the pilot deployed CAPS following the departure from controlled flight.

According to the text of the AD, “The FAA received a report that a Cirrus Model SF50 airplane was involved in an accident in which multiple flight control issues occurred after takeoff, causing the pilot to manually deploy the CAPS parachute. The FAA has no data showing the pilot received any crew alert system (CAS) messages indicating a CAPS autopilot malfunction. It was determined that the uncommanded activation of the CAPS autopilot mode contributed to the accident. 

“It was also determined that corrosion in the CAPS power timer circuit (part of the CAPS autopilot control mode circuit) may have provided an erroneous signal to the CAPS control box, inadvertently activating the CAPS autopilot mode. The FAA received several additional reports of corrosion on the CAPS power timer circuits on Cirrus Model SF50 airplanes.”

The AD provides for implementing the SB instructions along with a process for the pilot/owner to update the aircraft flight manual and placards accordingly. Those SB procedures include “booting the avionics in configuration mode, inhibiting the CAPS autopilot, fabricating and installing information placards, and revising the AFM. For certain airplanes, the service information also provides procedures for modifying the wiring to remove the CAPS power timer functionality.”

The CAPS Sequence in the Vision Jet

FLYING spoke with Cirrus SF50 program manager Matt Bergwall to understand what was happening, and he reviewed the procedure for initiating a CAPS deployment in the Vision Jet—which differs from that deployment in the SR series because the jet may be traveling at a much faster speed when the pilot pulls the trigger on the system.

Therefore, in the jet, if you pull the handle, the autopilot takes over at first, slowing the airplane to 130 knots before deploying the chute. Also, said Bergwall, there is a timer box that’s associated with the CAPS that keeps a little bit of power on standby in case the pilot turns off the aircraft battery system during the emergency.

According to Cirrus, it was discovered that the card actually became corroded in some instances and activated the autopilot for the CAPS system. So, it’s not a CAPS fault—the chute is not going to deploy, he said, but it became an autopilot issue—and one that the pilot can handle by disconnecting the autopilot normally with the AP button.

Bergwall confirmed that of the more than 400 SF50s in the field, at least half of the fleet has already complied with the service bulletin, and most of the field will be taken care of shortly.

Without the timer card—the “fix” in the AD—for CAPS deployment, the pilot will have to slow the airplane down manually. 

Eventually, Bergwall said, Cirrus will have a fix that’s an overall design change that customers can take care of during their scheduled maintenance periods.

The post FAA Issues AD on Vision Jet for CAPS Autopilot Function appeared first on FLYING Magazine.