Story ID: 
Cirrus Closes In on 9,000 Deliveries
By: Mark Huber
Caption: Cirrus marks three decades at AirVenture with enhanced aircraft and services
Word Count: 405
Cirrus Aircraft is marking three decades of displaying aircraft at EAA AirVenture. “For over three decades, Cirrus Aircraft has celebrated the incredible evolution of personal aviation at EAA AirVenture,” said Zean Nielsen, Cirrus CEO. “We are excited to be back this year to showcase our best-selling SR Series and Vision Jet along with a suite of new products and flight training services to enhance the ownership experience.” 

More than 350 Vision Jets have been delivered, and 650 pilots type rated in it, since FAA certification in October 2016.  The latest variant, the new Vision Jet G2+, adds 25 percent more takeoff performance, GoGo Inflight WiFi, new aesthetic options and other upgrades including the Flex cargo management system and a battery minder.  Designed to attach in the third row of cabin seats, Flex can accommodate up to 150-200 pounds of cargo at heights between 20- 28 inches tall.

Additionally, the company has sold more than 8,500 of its SR series of piston singles since certification in 1998 and recently announced continued upgrades for new build models of those aircraft including up to 9 knots more cruising speed, more convenience features, additional exterior paint colors and more interior leather options. 

The speed increase was achieved via drag reduction by refining the FIKI and tail panel seam designed to smoothen air flow over the wing and by adding more aerodynamic wheel pants. New convenience features include illuminated steps, keyless baggage door with pneumatic gas piston and a deeper door pocket, a USB-C port in the center console with up to 60 watts of power, and a revised exterior paint color palette. Maintenance enhancements include the addition of the “Cirrus IQ” status screen that includes aircraft model, aircraft status, inspection intervals, and warranty expiration. 

The Cirrus IQ status screen is redesigned to include aircraft model designation and a new navigation bar featuring aircraft status, inspection intervals and warranty expiration. A maintenance minder tracks approaching inspections and sends notifications when they are due. When flying, the flight hour meter automatically updates the inspection cards by providing a progress bar and countdown to the upcoming inspection event. The “my trips” module automatically logs flights and creates key trips statistics, while the warranty section references date and flight hour coverage.

Cirrus also offers customized flight training through a series of company centers in Arizona, Texas, and Florida and through Cirrus certified third-party training centers and Cirrus standardized instructor pilots.