I Flew On The New Cirrus Vision Single-Engine Jet

"Chris Clarke" (shiftsandgiggles) 02/21/2017 at 13:30 • Filed to: Planelopnik, Cirrus, Vision, SF50

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I happen to know a guy who knows a guy who’s buying one of these. Since my life is steeped in aviation I try to make it a point to be at the right place at the right time. In this case, I was invited to ride aboard serial number 8 of the class defining Cirrus single-engine personal jet.

In case you might not be up to speed on the details of this aircraft, the Cirrus Vision SF50 was envisioned back in 2006 when the Very Light Jet (VLJ) market seemed a boon. The economic down turn all but wiped out the development of the Vision and production was put on hold indefinitely as the company was restructured. After an influx of Chinese cash, the project was reinvigorated and the aircraft was awarded its type certificate after 10 years of development from the Federal Aviation Administration in the fall of 2016.

Cirrus might be best known for selling the most single-engine four-seat aircraft every year since 2004. Their SR22 is a high-performance composite piston airplane with a whole-plane emergency recovery parachute system. Cirrus thought its customers deserved a turbine upgrade path so entered the Vision jet. It too has a composite construction with an emergency parachute. Flying at similar speeds and configurations as its little brother, the simple controls and layouts are intended to be a natural transition for any existing Cirrus pilot.

I was impressed by the ample acceleration from the single engine as we sped down the runway, followed by an effortless climb to 28,000 feet. A few moments later we had accelerated to 350 mph. Just set the throttle for takeoff, climb, or cruise and let the computer do the rest. Once leveled off, the massive front windscreen provided on of the best panoramic views I’ve ever beheld from the flight levels.

Two large Garmin displays provided any information about the flight that could be desired and three smaller screens allowed the pilot to interact with the system through a simple-to-navigate touchscreen interface.

The interior was comfortable and spacious, albeit fairly loud. Unlike other smaller personal jets, a pair of noise cancelling headsets is required to hear and talk with other passengers or crew. This is most likely due to the fact that I was sitting directly beneath the Williams FJ33 turbofan engine, which can pump out up to 1,500 lbs of thrust.

My cohort was in the left seat manning the controls and although he had very little time in a Cirrus he handled the aircraft with mastery. We were undecided if this was due to such a forgiving airplane or his excellent piloting skills. We figured it was a little of both.

Gear is dropped at 230 mph (which is pretty fast for that sort of thing), essentially a speed brake. Flaps shortly after and with power set at 30% the airplane is driven down to landing at a very reasonable speed of 90 mph. About the same as most light twins, and eerily slow speed for a seven-passenger jet.

A simple flare over the runway and the trailing link landing gear absorbs the touchdown with grace. All-in-all a very impressive aircraft that’s dead simple which any pilot could fly with plenty of technology to keep crew informed of all flight activity for a successful flight.

10/10 would spend 2 million if I had it.

ttyymmnn > Chris Clarke 02/21/2017 at 13:41

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the Cirrus Vision SF50 was envisioned back in 2006

Pretty sure it was envisioned in 1944. ;)

Although the Cirrus has more seats. And fewer cannons.

sn4cktimes > Chris Clarke 02/21/2017 at 13:50

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Wondering if you’ve tried out an Icon A5, or know much about it. Before the oil downturn a few years ago I had dreams of this and hopping back and forth into BC lakes all summer.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > ttyymmnn 02/21/2017 at 13:51

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And fewer unexpected explosions. And fewer nose dives. And fewer instances of sudden and total immolation

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > Chris Clarke 02/21/2017 at 13:54

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Or, for $1.95 million less:

http://www.controller.com/listings/aircraft/for-sale/1457207/1968-aero-l-29

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 02/21/2017 at 13:55

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...so far

BorkBorkBjork > Chris Clarke 02/21/2017 at 13:57

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$2 Million? That’s pretty cheap for a jet, but there’s a fair amount of turboprops around that price that are comparable in speed and probably best the Cirrus in range and useful load. If you have no qualms about the used market, you could score a 7 or 8 year old Pilatus PC-12 for about a quarter million less.

How’s the operating cost on a VLJ compare? TBOs?

Ash78, voting early and often > Chris Clarke 02/21/2017 at 14:03

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That minimalist, all-glass panel is eerie. And I’ve always wondered if I could fly with a left-hand stick. Sounds awesome, but as with any Cirrus product, I’m left wondering how many other cool things you could buy for $2MM (I’m firmy in the “Cessna caravan with beds” camp, myself). That’s just my inner Tavarish speaking, or maybe channeling my grampa who bought a used Cessna 140 in 1951 and flew VFR using road maps :D

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > Chris Clarke 02/21/2017 at 14:09

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Neat, it’s got F-150 air vents. At least Ford air vents, they are probably in more than just the F-150.

LongbowMkII > ttyymmnn 02/21/2017 at 14:10

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The lack of cannons is an egregious oversight. 

AfromanGTO > Chris Clarke 02/21/2017 at 14:17

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Pretty cool, but expensive!

Cé hé sin > ttyymmnn 02/21/2017 at 15:12

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As the late Eric Brown said, and he was a man who knew about such things,

“Personally, I shall always recall the He-162 with affection as
it gave me some exhilarating hours in the air, and I cannot help but
feel that the Allies were fortunate for, had another month or two and
the necessary fuel been available, the He-162 might well have got in
amongst our bombers in numbers at a time when desperate measures might
just have achieved sensational results”

As chance would have it he died a year ago today.

punkgoose17 > ttyymmnn 02/21/2017 at 15:42

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This jet was the first thing I thought of when I saw the top image.

Brian McKay > Chris Clarke 02/21/2017 at 16:34

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speed brake

Grindintosecond > Chris Clarke 03/04/2017 at 22:15

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I always wondered what the emergency parachute actually accomplished for the pilot. Recovery from structural failure? Well, maintain the plane and don’t exceed the certified envelope and all should be fine. Recovery from unrecoverable spins? Well, again, loading the plane according to it’s certified envelope and not doing spins at weird and unapproved angles should prevent that from happening.

I really don’t know what else the chute would be good for that standard training wouldn’t or couldn’t recover from. Just a Curious thought.

A used TBM would probably be on my list instead of this thing if I wanted to carry 4 people somewhere more than 500 miles.

I like the write-up, good work on that! It’s quite possibly the best jet glider out there. Meaning, it really is a very clean powered glider at altitude if you think about it.

Chris Clarke > Grindintosecond 03/06/2017 at 12:10

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I agree that the chute is mainly a crutch for bad piloting, but there have been a handful of legitimate circumstances that have proven the value. Mainly, pilot incapacitation and mid air collisions. Here’s a good list .

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Chris Clarke 03/06/2017 at 13:44

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Ha I thought it was a photochop!

AeroSport Photography > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much 03/07/2017 at 13:51

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Same vents in the 2005-6 Ford GT...

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Grindintosecond 03/22/2017 at 22:11

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The Cirrus isn’t approved for spins so that should eliminate *one* Stupid Pilot Trick. Add midair collisions to the list (“I never saw the guy”) There are a number of situations where a pilot could find his or herself in, whether or not due to their own fault is irrelevant. The ballistic chute gives them an excellent chance of walking away from the wreck.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Chris Clarke 03/22/2017 at 22:14

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I don’t like touchscreens in cars; I sure as hell don’t like them in airplanes. When flying in any kind of turbulence control knobs (for changing frequencies) are just better imo. Then there’s all the damn fingerprints, which triggers my inner OCD monster...

Chris Clarke > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom 03/23/2017 at 11:48

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Flying with the Garmin GTN lately and the touchscreens are actually very good. Not any harder than grabbing a knob while in the chop.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Chris Clarke 03/24/2017 at 08:56

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You can have my Garmin 430/530 when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers...

Chris Clarke > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom 03/24/2017 at 10:27

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Definitely a great navigator for its time. 1998 was a great year, I think I got my first Motorola Brick cell phone about that time. Very nostalgic.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Chris Clarke 03/24/2017 at 22:15

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Oooh, snark! If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Lucas M > Chris Clarke 03/31/2017 at 08:07

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Anoka County Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol, Crawled into the prototype/model at Blaine Airport last year. That thing was awesome!