Although the business jet category was affected badly during the pandemic, one aircraft showed resilience. It was none other than the Cirrus Vision SF50-G2. It is a single-engine light jet designed by Cirrus Aircraft of Duluth, Minnesota, United States.
Historical Background
After receiving deposits in 2006, Cirrus introduced an aircraft mockup in June 2007 and a prototype in June 2008. Moreover, it made its first flight on 3 July 2008. However, the development slowed in 2009 due to the lack of funding. Fast forward to 2014, Cirrus flew its prototype, followed by two other prototypes the same year.
After ten years of development marred by technical and financial problems, the Federal Administration Aircraft (FAA) finally certified the aircraft in 2016. With certification, the Cirrus Vision SF50 became the first single-engine jet to be certified.
Engine and Performance
Cirrus Vision SF50 features a single FJ33-5A engine which has been modified with a new thrust schedule from 24,000 to 31,000 feet. So, this gives the aircraft an improved climb and a seven-knot increase in cruise speed from 28,000 feet to 311 ktas. Moreover, at 31,000 feet, the Vision G2 can cruise at 305 ktas.
The range of Cirrus Vision SF50 is around 100 miles higher at a long-range cruise of 240 ktas, giving a range of 1,200 nautical miles. A fantastic addition by Cirrus is the introduction of the auto-throttle system, which reduces the pilot’s workload. So, this makes the aircraft quite easy to operate.
Interior
The great thing about the interior of this luxury jet is that it is quite spacious. The cabin can seat up to five adults and two children. Moreover, there are three different seating options available. The traditional family configuration has three cabin seats and two optional child seats for a total of seven.
The fit and finish of the aircraft are quite amazing. Cirrus has also upgraded the carpeting and added small conveniences which mean a lot, including kangaroo pouches in front of each seat to hold a smartphone and a side pouch to hold an iPad.
Infotainment
Cirrus Vision SF50 is quite tech-friendly and features a 22-inch Entertainment Display, a power station with HDMI and USB power, and multi-zone climate control systems.
An interesting feature of this luxury jet is the presence of the Safe Return System. This button is available to the pilot and passengers within minutes of takeoff. In case of emergency, the plane’s inbuilt system accesses the conditions around it, and safely lands the plane in the nearest airport, without any human intervention.
Price
The price of the Cirrus Vision SF50-G2 is around $2,100,000. For more information, visit the Controller website.
The Cirrus Vision jet’s spacious cabin, high performance, and safety features all make for an ideal personal jet package. It’s hard to think that Cirrus could make Vision Jet better. So, if you want a luxury jet with high performance and tech-friendly features, you should choose the Cirrus Vision SF50.
