• READ MORE: Cirrus Delivers 10,000th SR Series Aircraft

One well-regarded avionics shop—Nexair Avionics in Plymouth, Massachusetts—has been specializing in avionics retrofits for Cirrus models for years and brought one to EAA AirVenture this week. It’s a 2007 SR22T G3 model sporting a fresh panel of new Garmin avionics, and we take a look at the airplane with Nexair sales manager Brian Wolfe.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on The Aviation Consumer.

The post AirVenture Video: Garmin Cirrus Retrofit appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Rethought from the inside out, the G7 series—including the SR20, SR22, and SR22T—takes cues from the Vision Jet to simplify operation while incorporating added safety and luxury features. All three 2024 models have completed the FAA type certification process and are ready for delivery.

FLYING took an exclusive first series of flights with the striking new G7 in the SR22 version in early December for a We Fly pilot report that will debut in Issue 945/February 2024, reaching subscribers later this month. Till then, a quick reveal…

• WATCH: Cirrus Updates SR Series

Central to the updates is the reimagined Perspective Touch+ integrated flight deck with 12- or 14-inch high-resolution displays, and twin GTC touchscreen controllers, to mimic the functionality and redundancy available in the Vision Jet SF50. Engine start has transformed into a push-button interface, preserving the ability to check mags and set mixture while making the process feel similar to that of the SF50. The updated automated flight control system (AFCS) incorporates smart servos and includes an optional yaw damper. 

Updated synoptic pages and streamlined checklists aid the pilot in monitoring both systems and procedures throughout all phases of flight. And the Cirrus IQ app gives the pilot remote viewing and control of certain aircraft functions. Cirrus Global Connect delivers worldwide text messaging, telephone service, and global weather.

SUBSCRIBE: Get the We Fly Report in Issue 945

It’s telling that Cirrus Aircraft looked up the model line to its Vision Jet to drive out complexity from its core single-engine pistons, sending its engineers on a journey to find ways to make the SRs as straightforward to operate as the jet. While that sounds like a contradiction, perhaps, pilots like FLYING’s Dick Karl have opined about the complexity involved in stepping down from a light jet back into the high-performance piston world.  

To this end, Cirrus has introduced a new shallower menu structure in the touchscreen controllers, along with a scroll wheel for turning through the CAS-linked, on-screen checklists smoothly. Still on the ground, Taxiway Routing and a contextualized 3D Safe Taxi guide the pilot around complex airport layouts, decluttering and slewing the PFD imagery to match the airplane’s speed and position on the airport. In the air, the automatic fuel selection system automatically switches between fuel tanks every 5 gallons.

Additional Safety Features

Pilots will also find an improved flight control, incorporating a stick shaker function to piggyback on the other envelope protection features in the Perspective+ series, for enhanced low-speed situational awareness. Both the left and right controls vibrate to warn of an approaching stall condition.


Another new addition to envelope protection is flap airspeed protection. The system monitors airspeed to protect the pilot from accidentally deploying or retracting flaps when the aircraft is traveling too fast or too slow for the given flap configuration change. 

A Stylish and Functional New Interior

In addition to the magic up front, Cirrus also rethought the interior, taking a page from current luxury vehicles to incorporate a host of new features, including redesigned interior panels, dimmable task lights, and ambient accent lighting. 

More rugged cup holders, more pockets, and two center console compartments efficiently store your smartphone and other key things for better cockpit organization and accessibility. Powered headset jacks and lighted high-power USB-C outlets come positioned within easy reach of each seat. 


First SR20 G7 Customer

While only one new TRAC20 (SR20) G7 has been built, it’s already wearing its school colors—those of Western Michigan University College of Aviation in Battle Creek. The Broncos are longtime Cirrus flight training operators and will incorporate the new models into their aviation degree programs. The school will take delivery in the first quarter for integration into the flightline.

Pilots across the board can opt into several training options for the new Cirrus line, including the OEM’s recently released Private Pilot Program—taking a prospective pilot from first flight to certification in their new airplane.

“Our mission is to increase participation in aviation, so more people can benefit from the freedom, productivity, and joy it provides,” said Zean Nielsen, CEO of Cirrus Aircraft. “We have also developed a comprehensive ecosystem, providing global sales, flight training, maintenance, and support to ensure our owners have a seamless ownership experience. Our aircraft are truly designed with people in mind, and the new SR Series G7 is a testament to that philosophy. Our team and our aircraft provide a clear path to enter and advance within the personal aviation community by learning to fly and eventually transition to the Vision Jet with ease.” 

The post The Big Reveal: Cirrus Shows Off the SR G7 appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2017 Cirrus SR22T.

After 25 years the Cirrus SR-series aircraft still look modern and fresh, thanks in part to continuous development. Regular avionics upgrades have resulted in recently released SR panels that bear little resemblance to those in earlier models. Pilots will also notice numerous small changes in design and materials to reduce weight, improve handling, increase useful load, and boost performance. Top SR models like the SR22T for sale here offer a combination of climb rate, cruise speed, handling, and comfort that make them delightful to fly.

While Cirrus aircraft are renowned for benignly pleasing flight characteristics, they probably are better known for their novel airframe parachutes. This feature, which many regard as a breakthrough in aviation safety, attracted a new audience to general aviation.  

Decades of Cirrus production have translated to a healthy supply of SR22s and SR20s on the used market. These aircraft are available at an increasingly broad range of prices and have gradually begun to attract a larger group of prospective buyers.

This Cirrus SR22T has 1,100 hours since new on the airframe and on its 315 hp TCM TSIO-550-K engine. The panel features the Cirrus Perspective+ by Garmin avionics suite, including Garmin G1000NXi with dual AHRS and air data computers, 12-inch LCD displays, GMA 350c audio panel, GFC 700 autopilot, engine monitoring, and synthetic vision. The aircraft is also equipped with air conditioning, ice protection, and a 77-cubic foot oxygen system.

Pilots looking for a modern high-performance, four-place traveling aircraft with composite construction and integrated Garmin avionics should consider this 2017 Cirrus SR22T, which is available for $775,000 on AircraftForSale.

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

• FLYING Magazine: We Fly: Cirrus SR22T 8000
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• FLYING Magazine: Emirates Selects Cirrus SR22 for Pilot Training
• Plane & Pilot: Cirrus Launches Innovation Center
• Plane & Pilot: Cirrus Talks New Airplanes, Core Priorities
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Cirrus SR22

AvWeb: 2020 Cirrus SR22T Flight Trial

The post This 2017 Cirrus SR22T Is a High-Performance, Parachute-Protected ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

That stands for the Cirrus Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, and the training development team revised the FAA’s Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge to center the content around the manufacturer’s SR20s and SR22s in a bid to make it more relevant and relatable for those learning to fly in the SR series.

Cirrus announced the new program on Monday at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. The program encompasses the entire private pilot curriculum, from zero hours to certification, in a syllabus of 47 training sessions. 

• READ MORE: Top 5 Things We Look Forward to at Oshkosh

Each session incorporates ground, simulator, and flight time and may take several hours to complete, depending on the learner’s pace. Cirrus bases the completion criteria on the airman certification standards, as managed by the flight instructor—which can be a Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot, instructor at a Cirrus Training Center, or an owner’s personal CFI. 

Learner performance tracks through several levels as they gain proficiency and close in on the ACS parameters. The bronze level is two times the ACS figures (i.e. +/- 200 feet), silver is 1.5 times the ACS, and gold meets the criteria. There’s also a way for the instructor to note whether the maneuver or procedure was completed with or without guidance.

Flip the 80/20

The point of the program is to target retention rates in flight training that are, frankly, quite poor. It’s estimated that only 20 percent of those who begin training complete a private pilot certificate. The Cirrus training team wants to “flip the 80/20,” according to Chris Slater, lead developer on the program. “We decided to go into the specifics, to remove the barriers.” That’s the premise behind the CHAK, which only retains about “10 percent” of the original PHAK content, according to Slater.

The training engages with the student through a customized learning management system, Cirrus Approach, incorporating Fun Facts, written exam study questions, and what the team calls “shameless plugs”—such as those examples where the CHAK references the Williams International FJ33 series turbine engine on the Vision Jet. The program centers interactive training, and it also draws on the close to 1 trillion terabytes of video in the Cirrus Approach library.

Training is scheduled in four-hour blocks to allow for proper briefing and debriefing as well as the ground, sim, or flight time. Pricing on the course retails for $1,200, and it is available to begin now.

The post Cirrus Seeks to Keep Learners Training with Private Pilot Program 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.

Cirrus said it plans to invest $13 million in the new facility, which will have a total of 45,000 square feet of space, including a 15,000-square-foot service hangar, 15,000-square-foot storage hangar, a flight simulation space, eight shade canopies, a retail store, and a lounge for customers.

• READ MORE: Cirrus Marks 9,000th SR in 2023 With Limited Edition

“The Dallas Metroplex is a central location for many of our SR Series and Vision Jet owners,” said Todd Simmons, president of customer experience at Cirrus. “With this new expansion at Cirrus McKinney, we are excited to continue enhancing the aircraft ownership experience for our current owners and also create an environment to introduce more people to the benefits of personal aviation.”

Currently the Cirrus McKinney operation employs more than 50 people, Cirrus said, adding that it “plans to continue adding more career opportunities in the future.” Cirrus has long been a leader in customer experience among general aviation manufacturers. In March the company launched an app to help shoppers configure their aircraft, and last month Cirrus marked the sale of its 9,000th SR series aircraft. 

• READ MORE: Cirrus Reveals Plans for a Huge Next-Gen Aircraft Development Center

The post Cirrus Aircraft Begins Work On New Dallas Facility 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.

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.

According to reports, the accident occurred around 4 p.m., shortly after Rathbun took off from the Duluth International Airport (KDLH). Preliminary data from Flightaware.com shows the 2016 SR22 registered as N929DR reached a speed of 181 knots and an altitude of 2,975 feet. The last known contact was made at just over 1,000 feet and showed the aircraft at 128 knots. Weather at the time of the accident was reported as VFR. 

Rathbun was the sole occupant on board.

Eyewitness accounts say it appeared the aircraft had skidded across the ice before becoming partially submerged. Multiple agencies responded to the scene.

Cirrus released a statement Monday afternoon stating the company is in close contact with Rathbun’s family, and their thoughts and prayers are with them at this time.

“His passing is a profound loss for the Cirrus family. His presence and character will be missed, but his legacy will be indelible,” Cirrus said in the statement. “A key contributor throughout his 26 years at Cirrus Aircraft, Dave played a crucial role in the early design and certification of the SR20.  Following similar work on the SR22 and SR22T, Dave was instrumental in the development and successful entry into service of the SF50 Vision Jet.”

Since joining Cirrus in 1996, Rathbun held a number of positions with the aircraft manufacturer, including engineering flight test pilot. He held a master’s degree in engineering from Louisiana Tech.

In a social media post, David’s brother, Daniel Rathbun, called him a “brilliant” engineer and credited him for being instrumental in the design of the Cirrus single-engine jet that recently won the coveted Robert J. Collier Trophy bestowed each year by the National Aeronautic Association. “David was indeed a gifted mover and shaker in the aviation world and will be horribly missed,” Daniel said.

The FAA and NTSB are currently investigating the accident. Preliminary reports typically take around two weeks, while final NTSB reports could take more than a year to identify the cause. Cirrus says it is fully engaged in supporting all authorities but will not comment on the accident details or speculate about the cause in respect to those involved.

• READ MORE: Potential Crankshaft Flaw Prompts FAA To Issue Continental Engine AD

The accident comes just two days after an FAA airworthiness directive was released affecting thousands of U.S. aircraft concerning safety with Continental engines. However, based on its serial number, the aircraft involved in Rathbun’s accident was not impacted by the AD.

Earlier this month, prior to the FAA’s AD, Cirrus temporarily grounded aircraft manufactured in the last two years because of suspected issues with engines manufactured by Continental.  

“Cirrus Aircraft continues to operate without restriction all its SR20s, as well as SR22s and SR22Ts manufactured before June 1, 2021, or after February 7, 2023,” noted the company in a February 9 statement.

The post Cirrus Aircraft Engineer Killed in Accident appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

So it makes sense that the OEM is expanding its footprint in the U.K. and Europe. Earlier this spring, Cirrus Aircraft opened a regional operations office in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, to join its sales office in Valenciennes, France, and it has named Oriens Aviation at Biggin Hill Airport (EGKB) near London, England, as a service provider in its network. Oriens joins Cirrus maintenance providers in Guernsey, Gloucestershire, and Leeds in the U.K., and hundreds around the world.

The Big Picture

FLYING spoke with Cirrus CEO Zean Nielsen in May regarding the new Rotterdam office and various market needs and challenges that the manufacturer faces in 2022.

Nielsen joined Cirrus three years ago, and he’s navigated the company through the changes wrought by the pandemic, supply chain issues, and market forces—and come through with a positive outlook on the company’s prospects.

“Our international markets should represent somewhere between 20 to 30 percent of our total revenue,” said Nielsen in the interview with FLYING. “Now, the U.S. markets are…way more fortunate from an infrastructure perspective—there are 5,000 airports, fuel is readily available, you don’t have to tell ATC folks where you’re flying all the time—it’s way easier. We’re gated in terms of how fast we can grow in Europe by infrastructure.”

“What we can solve ourselves is that the planes are certified to fly, all the technology is available, and like most companies, you service your biggest market first and then you begin to implement the technologies in the international portfolio.”

The Vision Jet fulfills a unique position in that portfolio in terms of implementing those new capabilities. “The Vision Jet is an example—CPDLC is one of those things that Europe is just further along with, and it is a feature that we’re working on so you can get from 28,000 feet to 30,000, right? So it’s one of those corner cases, but we’re making sure that we’re there.”

The U.S. Keeps Growing—But…

He added,“When the U.S. is growing as fast as it is—which it is, [it’s] really been on fire over the last three years—then your international markets have to grow rapidly too [in order to keep that balance in sales].”

Cirrus is “happy with the partner network we have” in Europe, which takes care of sales, unlike the direct sales the company promotes in the U.S. But the company wants its own facilities to support the growth and what those partners can do. “We now need to have locals on the ground to support that partner network,” which led to the office opening in Rotterdam—a strategic location from which Cirrus representatives can reach customers on both continental Europe, in Germany, its biggest market, and the U.K.

The Rotterdam location will provide service, sales, and marketing support, “to make sure that Europe is a priority and not an afterthought—which it has never been,” said Nielsen. “It’s now becoming a larger portion. It’s to make sure that every day somebody wakes up and thinks about Europe,” and that it is composed of 28 small countries, not one homogenous entity. “You can tailor programs and content to be perfect for the market.”

“I’m European—I’m Danish—I moved to the U.S. 20 years ago, so I understand the complexity of Europe, which is why we chose the Netherlands, to be the anchor point for our support office.”

Labor rules are more reasonable in the Netherlands, and Nielsen finds the Dutch to be very “pro business.” Other key elements to the choice? English is broadly spoken as the second language, and Rotterdam’s central location will pay off in service access.

Oriens also plans growth tied to the Cirrus partnership: The company is looking to hire additional B1/B2 engineers to support the MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) work.

The post Cirrus Expands Sales Network, Adapts to Marketplace appeared first on FLYING Magazine.