A List Of 4 Cirrus Built Aircraft
Cirrus has become a household name in General Aviation aircraft, particularly with its SR series and the latest Vision Jet. The SR22 series has been the world’s best-selling every year for the last two decades. The manufacturer has delivered nearly 10,000 examples of the SR series across multiple variants.
Simple Flying explores the various aircraft models produced by Cirrus.
The Cirrus VK-30 is a single-engined pusher propeller aircraft originally designed as a kit by Cirrus Design. The title VK came from its designers, Jeff Viken and Alan and Dale Klapmeier (brothers). The all-composite aircraft achieved natural laminar flow over the fuselage, wings, and tail surfaces.
Powered by a single Continental IO-550-G horizontally opposed piston engine, generating 300 horsepower (220 kW) of takeoff power. The aircraft performed its first flight in February 1988. While only a handful of kits were sold, the VK-30 became the basis of the SR20 and SR22, the best-selling General Aviation aircraft for over two decades.
The Cirrus SR20 is a single-engined composite monoplane designed and developed in the early 1990s. The four-seater aircraft performed its first flight in March 1995. The SR20 was the first General Aviation aircraft to feature a parachute to be activated in case of losing control.
Photo: Cirrus
The SR20 is powered by a single Continental IO-360-ES six-cylinder, horizontally-opposed piston aircraft engine, generating 200 horsepower (150 kW) of takeoff power. As of 2023, the manufacturer has produced over 1,800 examples of the SR-20. The popular aircraft was developed into SR-22 in the early 2000s.
The Cirrus SR22 was developed from the SR20, with a larger wing, greater fuel capacity (and operational range), and a more powerful engine. With a capacity to seat up to five people, including the pilot, the SR22 became the most-produced General Aviation aircraft of the 21st century.
Photo: Nadezda Murmakova | Shutterstock
The SR22 is powered by a single Continental IO-550-N six-cylinder horizontally opposed aircraft engine, generating up to 310 horsepower (230 kW) of takeoff power. Nicknamed “the plane with the parachute,” the SR22 is equipped with the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). Cirrus claims that CAPS is the
“most significant innovation in the last 50 years of aviation, CAPS provides the ultimate level of protection - there when you need it most.”
The Cirrus Vision SF50, also known as the Vision Jet, is a very light jet that performed its maiden flight in July 2008. A wide range of tests were performed across various prototypes before the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification was obtained in October 2016.
Photo: Cirrus Aviation
The Vision Jet is powered by a Williams FJ33 turbofan engine, which generates 1,846 lbf (8.21 kN) of takeoff thrust. The low-wing cantilever aircraft features a V-tail and a retractable tricycle landing gear. It is also equipped with an emergency autoland system, which enhances safety.
According to Cirrus,
“The combination of the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®) and Safe Return™ emergency autoland provides the ultimate level of safety and assurance - exclusively available in the Vision Jet.”