Cirrus Vision SJ50
Encyclopedia
Cirrus Design
The Cirrus Aircraft Corporation is an aircraft manufacturer that was founded in 1984 by Alan and Dale Klapmeier to produce the VK-30 kit aircraft....
.
The aircraft was initially developed under the project name "The Jet", but Cirrus announced the final marketing name of "Vision SJ50" on July 9, 2008. In March the aircraft was redesignated as the "Vision SF50".
The prototype aircraft was first shown publicly at the annual Cirrus Migration on June 26, 2008 and first flown on 3 July 2008.
The SF50 is intended to be a step up aircraft for pilots who have flown the Cirrus SR20
Cirrus SR20
The Cirrus Design SR20 is a piston engine composite monoplane that seats four. The SR20 is noted for being the first production general aviation aircraft equipped with a parachute designed to lower the aircraft safely to the ground after loss of control or structural failure.-Design and...
and SR22
Cirrus SR22
The Cirrus SR22 is a single-engine, four-seat, composite aircraft, built by Cirrus Aircraft starting in 2001. It is a more powerful version of the Cirrus SR20, with a larger wing, higher fuel capacity, and a 310 horsepower engine...
.
Development
The Vision SF50 is not intended to compete with very light jetVery Light Jet
A very light jet, entry-level jet or personal jet, previously known as a microjet, is a category of small jet aircraft approved for single-pilot operation, seating 4-8 people, with a maximum take-off weight of under...
s like the Eclipse 500
Eclipse 500
The Eclipse 500 is a small six-seat business jet aircraft manufactured by Eclipse Aviation.Eclipse 500 became the first of a new class of Very Light Jet when it was delivered in late 2006...
and the Cessna Citation Mustang
Cessna Citation Mustang
|-Operators:The aircraft is operated by private individuals, companies and executive charter operators. A number of companies also use the aircraft as part of fractional ownership programs.-See also:-External links:* * * * .* * * *...
. It is intended for the personal use market and will be comparable to the Diamond Aircraft Industries
Diamond Aircraft Industries
Diamond Aircraft Industries is an Austrian-based manufacturer of general aviation aircraft and motor gliders, which also has a large manufacturing facility in London, Ontario, Canada...
D-Jet
Diamond D-Jet
The Diamond D-JET is a composite, five-seat, single-engine jet aircraft produced by Diamond Aircraft Industries. The aircraft is undergoing flight testing...
.
The aircraft will be equipped with a Ballistic Recovery Systems
Ballistic Recovery Systems
Ballistic Recovery Systems is a manufacturer of aircraft ballistic parachutes .The company was formed in 1980 by Boris Popov after he survived a fall in a partly collapsed hang glider in 1975...
parachute and will be made of a composite material.
Cirrus began taking $100,000 deposits for the aircraft in 2006. Initially, as a public relations exercise, the company gave deposit holders a drawing of the aircraft in the form of a jigsaw puzzle
Jigsaw puzzle
A jigsaw puzzle is a tiling puzzle that requires the assembly of numerous small, often oddly shaped, interlocking and tessellating pieces.Each piece usually has a small part of a picture on it; when complete, a jigsaw puzzle produces a complete picture...
, one piece at a time. On 28 June 2007, the entire puzzle was completed, and the aircraft's configuration was unveiled.
In December 2006 Cirrus announced that its product will be the "slowest, lowest, and cheapest jet available." The SF50 will be powered by a single Williams FJ33-4A-19 engine, producing 1900 pound-forces (8,451.6 N) of thrust and is expected to cruise at about 300 knots (588 km/h). The SF50 will seat seven people, with the cockpit, second row and the third row each seating two. There will be a seat that can slide between the second and third row or be removed entirely. The parachute will be located in the nose.
The L-3 SmartDeck
L-3 SmartDeck
SmartDeck - is a fully integrated cockpit system developed by L-3 Avionics Systems.SmartDeck is one of the many systems available today known as a “glass cockpit.” Popularized by large transport category aircraft in the 1980s, the glass cockpit is a high technology cockpit configuration in which...
was used as the avionics package during the development phase of the SF50 but was replaced with the Garmin G1000
Garmin G1000
The Garmin G1000 is an integrated flight instrument system manufactured by Garmin typically composed of two display units, one serving as a primary flight display, and one as a multi-function display...
for the production version. As a result of this change L-3 Avionic Systems
L-3 Communications
L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. is a company that supplies command and control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems and products, avionics, ocean products, training devices and services, instrumentation, space, and navigation products. Its customers include...
announced in June 2009 that they are suing Cirrus for US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
18M.
On 22 May 2008, at EBACE
European Business Aviation Association
European Business Aviation Association or EBAA, is a non-profit association based in Belgium that has existed since 1977. Its 400 member companies span all aspects of the business aviation sector in Europe and elsewhere...
2008, Cirrus CEO Alan Klapmeier confirmed that the company currently has 400 refundable deposits of USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
$100,000 for the aircraft.
On Wednesday 3 December 2008 CEO Alan Klapmeier and Vice President for Advanced Development Mike Van Staggen provided an update on the aircraft's development. Klapmeier confirmed that the SF50 is not intended for corporate or air-taxi use, but is being developed for personal-use and that market will determine the design. Klapmeier confirmed that the prototype has flown 120 hours and that expectations have been met. Completed test flying includes proving the whole center of gravity
Center of gravity
In physics, a center of gravity of a material body is a point that may be used for a summary description of gravitational interactions. In a uniform gravitational field, the center of mass serves as the center of gravity...
envelope, in-flight engine shut-down and re-start. He confirmed that stall testing is still being conducted.
The aircraft's aerodynamic design has been modified based on the test flights completed and the use of computer models with the aim of increasing performance. Changes include altering the engine thrust angle, which has made a large improvement. On the final production aircraft the right side door has been eliminated to save weight. The door will be replaced by an emergency egress hatch. The production aircraft will also have a more pointed nose, larger belly section, redesigned wing-root fairing, reduced tail sweep and a larger or even dual ventral fin.
Klapmeier confirmed that the aircraft's maximum payload will be 1,200 pounds. With full fuel it will carry 400 pounds of people and cargo. Klapmeier indicated that the trade-off between range and payload was based on customer consultations, which indicated that owners will often fly longer trips solo. Target range will be 1100 nmi (2,037 km) at a maximum cruise speed of 300 kn (588 km/h).
Klapmeier indicated that an Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
type certificate
Type certificate
A Type Certificate, is awarded by aviation regulating bodies to aerospace manufacturers after it has been established that the particular design of a civil aircraft, engine, or propeller has fulfilled the regulating bodies' current prevailing airworthiness requirements for the safe conduct of...
application will be ready in mid-December 2008 but, due to high fees on this class of aircraft in Europe, European Aviation Safety Agency
European Aviation Safety Agency
The European Aviation Safety Agency is an agency of the European Union with offices in Cologne, Germany, which has been given regulatory and executive tasks in the field of civilian aviation safety. It was created on 15 July 2002, and it reached full functionality in 2008, taking over functions...
certification will not be sought immediately. Klapmeier indicated that the fees EASA charges to certify an aircraft are unreasonable. The FAA does not charge any fees to certify an aircraft. Klapmeier stated: "We're not filing because we're not paying."
Cirrus announced that pilot training requirements will be specified in the type certificate, in a similar manner to the Eclipse 500
Eclipse 500
The Eclipse 500 is a small six-seat business jet aircraft manufactured by Eclipse Aviation.Eclipse 500 became the first of a new class of Very Light Jet when it was delivered in late 2006...
, making training a legal requirement.
In December 2008 the price for the SF50 was estimated to be USD$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1 million (base) and USD$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1.25 Million (equipped) when production commences.
In July 2009 the company announced that the test program had completed 200 hours of flight time. The aircraft will incorporate some design changes, including an X tail, simpler and lighter flaps
Flap (aircraft)
Flaps are normally hinged surfaces mounted on the trailing edges of the wings of a fixed-wing aircraft to reduce the speed an aircraft can be safely flown at and to increase the angle of descent for landing without increasing air speed. They shorten takeoff and landing distances as well as...
and changes to the handling so that the aircraft pitches up on power application instead of down. The company confirmed that they have about 400 orders for the aircraft, although some deposit refunds have been issued. First deliveries now anticipated in 2012, depending on capital funding.
On 2 September 2009 the company announced that the maximum price for purchasers who have already paid a deposit will be US$1.39M. This will provide customers with an aircraft equipped to a similar standard as the current SR22 GTS
Cirrus SR22
The Cirrus SR22 is a single-engine, four-seat, composite aircraft, built by Cirrus Aircraft starting in 2001. It is a more powerful version of the Cirrus SR20, with a larger wing, higher fuel capacity, and a 310 horsepower engine...
model. For new customers who pay a US$100,000 deposit before the end of 2009 the price will be US$1.55M. Beginning on 1 January 2010 the price will be US$1.72M, with a US$50,000 deposit, all in 2009 dollars.
In November 2009 the company announced that development of the SF50 had slowed due to inability to raise the capital needed in the post-test flying phase. Cirrus CEO Brent Wouters indicated that unless financing is found that deliveries will not start until after 2012.
In January 2010 the company confirmed that the project does not have a timeline for certification or deliveries. CEO Brent Wouters stated: "It's a function of cash flow ... We will get the program done as soon as humanly possible." As of January 2010 the company has 428 position holders, with order increasing at about one to two per week. The test aircraft had accumulated 236 hours.
Also in January 2010 some parameters for the jet's design were confirmed. The aircraft will be certified for FL280. It will have a hybrid ice protection system consisting of urethane
Polyurethane
A polyurethane is any polymer composed of a chain of organic units joined by carbamate links. Polyurethane polymers are formed through step-growth polymerization, by reacting a monomer with another monomer in the presence of a catalyst.Polyurethanes are...
pneumatic boots
Deicing boot
A deicing boot is a type of ice protection system installed on aircraft surfaces to permit a mechanical deicing in flight. Such boots are generally installed on the leading edges of wings and control surfaces A deicing boot is a type of ice protection system installed on aircraft surfaces to permit...
. The cabin pressurization will be contained within a single-piece carbon shell. The aircraft will have an optional lavatory
Aircraft lavatory
An aircraft lavatory is a small room on an aircraft with a toilet and sink.-Minimum standards:Lavatories per passenger provided aboard aircraft vary considerably from airline to airline and aircraft to aircraft...
and will fit in a standard US-style 40 ft (12 m) Tee hangar
Tee Hangar
A Tee hangar is a type of enclosed structure designed to hold aircraft in protective storage. Typically constructed of metal, they are primarily used for private aircraft at general aviation airports because they are more economical than rectangular hangars...
.
In June 2010 the company announced that it expected to start building a conforming prototype by the end of 2010 and having it flying by the end of 2011. Certification is forecast for the middle of 2013. The company is also proceeding with the full-aircraft parachute design, a component that company CEO Wouters described as "high-risk".
As of June 2010 Cirrus reported that they had 431 orders for the aircraft, which was priced at US$1.72M at that time. Deposits made after 1 January 2010 are non-refundable.
Proposed program purchase
On 26 June 2009 it was reported by AvWeb that Cirrus Design co-founder and former CEO Alan Klapmeier intended to buy the SF50 project from Cirrus Design and its major shareholder ArcapitaArcapita
Arcapita Inc. is a Delaware-incorporated holding and real estate company, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia....
and produce the aircraft himself under a new company. The new venture received financial advice from Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch is the wealth management division of Bank of America. With over 15,000 financial advisors and $2.2 trillion in client assets it is the world's largest brokerage. Formerly known as Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., prior to 2009 the firm was publicly owned and traded on the New York...
. Klapmeier indicated that his reason for wanting to take over the project was to increase the speed of development. Current Cirrus CEO Brent Wouters responded by saying that the company intends to proceed with the SF50 program itself, but would listen to Klapmeier's proposal.
On Monday 27 July 2009 Cirrus CEO Brent Wouters and co-founder Dale Klapmeier stated at a press conference that they would find a way to produce the SF50, either at Cirrus or through selling it to Alan Klapmeier. They both indicated that the key factor was raising enough capital to proceed with the project, complete certification and commence production.
On Friday 31 July 2009 Alan Klapmeier announced that his offer to buy the SF50 program had not succeeded, with the key issue the program selling price, as well as other points and that the negotiations were at an end. Wouters responded saying further talks were possible, but that Cirrus would continue to develop the SF50 in house.
Operators
In July 2008, SATSairSATSair
SATSair was an air taxi provider based in Greenville, South Carolina, USA. SATSair was a founding member of the Air Taxi Association .-History:...
, an air taxi company 25% owned by Cirrus, ordered five Cirrus Vision SF50s to add to its fleet of Cirrus SR22
Cirrus SR22
The Cirrus SR22 is a single-engine, four-seat, composite aircraft, built by Cirrus Aircraft starting in 2001. It is a more powerful version of the Cirrus SR20, with a larger wing, higher fuel capacity, and a 310 horsepower engine...
piston aircraft. SATSair subsequently ceased operations on 24 October 2009, prior to taking delivery of any SF50s.
Production location
On December 27 2007 Cirrus Design secured a lease for former Northwest AirlinesNorthwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines, Inc. was a major United States airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines by a merger approved on October 29, 2008, making Delta the largest airline in the world...
hangar at Duluth International Airport
Duluth International Airport
Duluth International Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located five nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Duluth, a city in St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States. It serves the Duluth-Superior area including Superior, Wisconsin...
, indicating that it will use the 189000 square feet (17,558.7 m²) building for construction of the Cirrus jet project.