![]() ![]() With the first SR-22s rolling off the line in 2001, it very quickly became a wildly popular aircraft. In 2001, they released the aircraft that they are most recognized for, the Cirrus SR22. During the tough times, however, Cirrus never stopped refining their designs and pushing forward in their quest to produce the safest airplanes possible. Over the years, Cirrus has transitioned from being a kit building company to a full fledged aircraft manufacturer, all the while navigating some serious business turbulence. – Dale Klapmeier, Co-Founder and CEO, Cirrus Aircraft AndersĬirrus Aircraft Corporation, originally Cirrus Design, was founded in 1984 by brothers Alan and Dale Klapmeier to produce the VK-30 kit aircraft. ![]() That’s why we design them, that’s how we design them.” We want our airplanes to be the safest airplanes. “What we’re after is making aviation safer. The aircraft cruises at 185 KTAS, but for training purposes, we flew at 55% power.All About the Cirrus SR22, from the history to a mechanic’s perspective on how the aircraft stacks up. This can seem overwhelming at first, especially to a student. The wheels left the ground and we climbed powerfully and decisively.Īs is true for any high-performance aircraft, there’s more going on in a shorter amount of time and at higher speeds than in a less complex airplane. The torque generated by the 310 hp Continental IO-550-N driving a three-blade Hartzell propeller demands a great deal of rudder to hold centerline, but it’s easily managed. The true test began on the takeoff roll: smooth application of power and right rudder! What qualified as a lot of right rudder in the 172 didn’t come close in the Cirrus. The aircraft can just about turn around on a dime, a nice feature when faced with the alternative of pushing a not-so-light (3,400-pound gross weight) aircraft into its tiedown spot. Ground maneuverability was excellent, thanks to a castering nosewheel. I hadn’t given much thought to this in the 172, and it was a hard temptation to resist. Liz DeStaffany, my instructor at Santa Monica’s Justice Aviation, reminded me again and again to stay off the brakes to avoid overheating them. As a student pilot, the additional safety is comforting, although the manual’s warning that you’ll meet the earth with “the equivalent of ground impact from a height of approximately 13 feet” puts everything in perspective. (In the event of a severe in-flight emergency, pull on the overhead red handle, and a solid-fuel rocket will launch a 55-foot parachute from the aft fuselage.) The checklist instructs you to simply remove the handle’s pin, and the system is armed. Preflight inspection on an SR22 is standard, except of course for the unusual ballistic parachute system. ![]() Besides, if it’s good enough for Angelina Jolie! Sitting left seat in this $350,000 state-of-the-art wonder, I started to feel better about my decision. Well, the future looks good! With an interior that screams “sports car,” the new Cirrus comes standard with anĪvidyne Entegra glass panel, a side stick fit for a fighter pilot and even an iPod hookup. Cirrus boasts that its next-generation airplanes are paving the way for the future. During my first lesson, however, my fears were quickly overridden by awe. ![]()
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