Cirrus Aircraft says its Vision SF50 is on target to become the world’s first certificated single-engined personal jet to enter service, as it races towards the fourth-quarter finish line.
“We have been working at full steam to get this aircraft to market,” says company co-founder and chief executive Dale Klapmeier. “We should deliver at least one aircraft this year.”
Three aircraft are currently in flight testing, and the campaign had notched up almost 400 flying hours by 13 April, he adds.
The first Williams International FJ33-powered SF50, designated C-0, entered service about a year ago and has been used for aerodynamics, performance and stability testing. “These evaluations are now 85% complete,” continues Rick Hollander, vice-president, manufacturing and supply chain.
C-1 joined the programme in November and has notched up nearly 80h of natural ice testing in the skies about Duluth, Minnesota. C2 – the final flying prototype – has been used for high-intensity radiated fuel and systems testing since entering service in December. “We have also just completed the 50thdrop test on the SF50’s emergency parachute system,” Hollander adds. This feature deploys in the case of loss of control and is standard across the Cirrus aircraft family, which includes the SR20/22 piston-singles.
The first production SF50, designated P1, will join the flight test programme in the second half of the year. It will be used for function and reliability testing and eventually as a company demonstrator. Cirrus has secured more than 500 orders for the $1.96 million SF50 to date. It plans to deliver 50 of the Garmin G3000-equipped aircraft in 2016, increasing to 100 per year in 2017.
Source: Flight International
