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A commercial pilot, editor-in-Chief Isabel Goyer has been flying for more than 40 years, with hundreds of different aircraft in her logbook and thousands of hours. An award-winning aviation writer, photographer and editor, Ms. Goyer led teams at Sport Pilot, Air Progress and Flying before coming to Plane & Pilot in 2015. Cirrus IQ’s “My Trips”, due out next month, logs each flight and “curates key trip statistics and achievements earned while flying.” The app also helps owners keep track of their warranty coverage. There are other changes to the SR22, and most of them have to do with quality-of-life improvements.
Unprecedented Success: The Soaring Sales of the Cirrus SR22
It is hard to imagine a situation where you wouldn't have power available to make it to an airport. Look for the company to add the Goodrich SkyWatch traffic avoidance system to the option list soon, joining the WX-500 Stormscope as a popular way to personalize your airplane. At a cruise setting of 75 percent and optimum altitude of about 8,000 feet, the SR22 trues out at 181 knots or a bit higher on about 18.4 gallons per hour. The fuel burn is higher than what Continental specifies, but it is what the engine needs to run comfortably rich of peak. Fuel burn can be reduced by running lean of peak, but power output decreases. At 75-percent power, the airplane can travel about 3.5 hours with reserves, equal to 650 nm in still air.
Limiting and Recommended Airspeeds
If we break down these costs and convert them to an annual rate, the figure will come to about $1,800 per year. Costs such as fuel, annual inspections, insurance, hangar space, repairs, and maintenance will always be there as long as you own an airplane. It was rolled out in the Cirrus SR20 as a standard feature, making it the first ever general aviation aircraft to be fitted with a parachute system. It was designed to be the first of its kind whole aircraft parachute system, installed in an aircraft as an extra safety feature. 2017 marked the introduction of the third generation series, the Cirrus SR22 G3, which came with a series of changes and upgrades.
Successes in conflict and new anti-radar features signal the future of drone warfare
The Cirrus Executive package enhances the aircraft with two significant additions. Firstly, it includes a yaw damper that allows the autopilot to control the vertical axis, resulting in a smoother ride and improved pilot workload management. Secondly, it incorporates Cirrus’ Enhanced Vision System (EVS), displaying infrared imaging on the Multi-Function Display (MFD) for enhanced situational awareness. As I sat in the left seat listening to the song, it got me thinking.
Since delivery of the first SR20 in July 1999, the company's immediate goal has been to build one airplane a day in an effort to work off a backlog that, as of late March, stretches to more than 650 orders. Cirrus One™ is an exclusive, concierge aircraft management service offered to regional Cirrus SR Series and Vision Jet owners. Powered headset jacks and lighted USB-C ports at each passenger seat keep everyone connected and entertained while reducing cabin clutter.
The seats are firm and felt especially so in the cool Denver morning as we launched before dawn for the photo mission. The seats, their foam, and the honeycomb structure under the seats form part of the intricately designed safety system that will crush during a crash or during a landing under the parachute. The crushing slowly dissipates loads to spare the pilot and passengers. Not many four- or six-seat airplanes can take off with the seats and the tanks full. With a typical full-fuel payload of about 575 pounds (at the new 3,000-pound maximum gross weight), the SR20 can carry three adults and bags.
Maximum gross weight
Further reductions decrease manifold pressure until reaching a detent. As a practical matter, you fly it just as you would any other airplane, except with less fussing around. Set full throttle for takeoff, reduce to 2,500 rpm for initial climb, and leave it there until you level off. In cruise set whatever manifold pressure you want (or, at higher altitudes, leave it alone for whatever is available). If the engine fails, you can pull the throttle back and the prop changes to a coarser pitch to reduce drag.
Additionally, regular checks are conducted on all parts of the assembly to ensure smooth operation and reliability. The SR22’s popularity has led to a wide range of aftermarket upgrades. Avionics and performance enhancements can transform even a 2001 SR22 into a modern 2022 model. Instead, Cirrus utilizes a side-yoke, reminiscent of side-stick controls found in Airbus aircraft. The cockpit design showcases advanced technology and an exemplary layout. In July 2007 PlaneSmart, a professional aircraft management company, announced plans to replace its fleet of SR22-G2 aircraft with SR22-G3s.
When deployed, this ballistic parachute will safely bring the aircraft down at a rate of 1,680 feet per minute at MTOW. Though this seems like a high rate of descent, there have only been minor injuries during emergencies where the CAPS was used. It's up to the buyer to decide if they want to enjoy the premium feel of this aircraft or have it delivered in its stock version. But if you have that extra money, there's no reason not to spend it. These aren't just extras for your comfort, as some of these features will change your flying experience. The landing gears were also redesigned and made taller to improve prop clearance.
The SR20, burning only about 11 gph, can travel 4.3 hours with reserves or about 695 nm at 160 knots. So in that case, the tortoise wins, although at 160 kt it's one fast tortoise. The greater span is the result of 18-inch wingtip extensions not found on the SR20. However, there are a number of internal differences, including a stronger spar. The landing gear attach points are also different — beefed up to handle the SR22's 3,400-pound maximum gross weight.
This upgrade meant an increase in the overall aircraft weight, reducing the aircraft’s useful load. On the flip side, this meant an increase in cruising speeds, raising it to 211 knots and a top speed of 219 knots. The first Cirrus debuted with the Continental IO-550-N, 310 hp, nose-mounted piston engine. Featuring an Avidyne Entegra flight display instead of the traditional flight instruments, made the Cirrus SR22 achieved a milestone of having a fully integrated glass cockpit for avionics. It has a passenger capacity of four to five people and is ideally made for personal and business use.
New Fighting Weight Part of the aircraft’s utility is courtesy of a new 3600-pound gross weight, up from a previous 3400 pounds. The new weight increase means you can load a SR22T commonly equipped with air conditioning, certified de-ice package, full fuel (92 gallons usable) and three 180-pound occupants. The weight increase also allows you to load more of your stuff—or another small passenger—into the previously-introduced 60/40 rear seat. AirShares Elite CEO David Lee says his company has had a successful launch because it is entirely focused on customer service. The objective is to take away the hassles of aircraft ownership and allow the owners to fly.
It was a groundbreaking single-engine piston aircraft with a unique design, featuring the engine positioned behind the cabin. Powered by a robust Continental IO-550-G engine, the VK-30 generated 300 hp (220 kW) and had a three-bladed propeller mounted at the tail. The aircraft’s construction, made entirely of composite materials, contributed to its durability and performance. Customers flying from an AirShares Elite facility have access to the company's corporate hangar, which also houses a lounge, flight planning room, and other amenities. The monthly fee also includes free charts, AOPA membership, and a host of other perks. Recognizing individual flying styles, Cirrus offers sought-after upgrades like the factory air conditioning unit for a comfortable environment and the built-in oxygen system for high-altitude operations.
It includes features like Jeppesen ChartView and SurfaceWatch, improving instrument flight rules (IFR) operations and reducing pilot workload. But let’s shift our focus to something more serious—the remarkable Cirrus SR22. This aircraft has truly established itself as a powerhouse in the general aviation realm, shattering records and leaving a lasting impression. While technically categorized as a single-engine piston aircraft, it transcends that definition in every way. If that’s true, and Cirrus generally plays it straight with its numbers, then that’s a huge increase, on the order of 5% of the plane’s top speed. The company does say, however, that “the new model’s ice panel transition seams are smoothed and wheel pant tolerances tightened to reduce drag.” Interference drag is low-hanging fruit, so good for them.
The Cirrus SR22 delivers everything a general aviation pilot could dream of and more. And let’s not forget about its stunning aesthetics—it’s a marvel to behold, almost resembling something straight out of the futuristic world of The Jetsons. As a pilot myself, I confidently assert that the Cirrus SR22 stands among the very best single-engine piston aircraft in its class. By the time you reach the end of this guide, I hope you’ll share in my enthusiasm and understand why this aircraft is truly in a league of its own. Ergonomic Integration Slide into the cockpit of the new SR22T and you’re greeted by one of the most integrated flight decks found in a single-engine piston aircraft. If you’re coming from an earlier-gen Cirrus with Avidyne Entegra and GNS430 package, the new Garmin Perspective cockpit will be like flying an entirely different aircraft.
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