Business & GA

Cirrus has flown into the jet world and its SJ50 Vision arrived in Oshkosh for its first public outing less than four weeks after its first flight.

"As 'V1' it's a verification prototype," says CEO Alan Klapmeier. "What we've got in front of us is a lot to learn."

What he hopes will bring in new aviators by being the lowest and slowest jet available is powered by a single Williams International FJ33-4A-19 engine, mounted atop the fuselage and exhausting between its V-Tail. A SmartDeck display system and integrated flight controls are installed. 

The first air taxi customer announced five orders minutes after the Vision rolled into Aeroshell square. SATSair operates a fleet of Cirrus SR22s over the east coast.

The purchase price was not revealed, and a lot could yet change about the configuration. Testing has reached 25 flight hours, says advanced development group vice president Steve Serfling, adding there have been few changes from the mock-up unveiled 13 months ago.

"Some people have noted that a window is missing & the door does not have a top and bottom split - remember this is a test aircraft & some designs are more toward safe flight test and not final design," he says.