The former Bahrain-owned Cirrus Aircraft has been given the go ahead for its Cirrus Vision SF50 personal jet programme by the company's new Chinese owners.
The company said the project is now fully funded through to certification and initial production, thanks to major investment from its new owner CAIGA – with the first customer delivery expected to take place in 2015.
Cirrus says the Vision is the first aircraft of its kind to fill the gap between high performance pistons and traditional turboprop twins and light business jets, offering the same class-leading innovation, technology and style hallmarks that Cirrus is known for in its best-selling SR20, SR22 and SR22T family of single engine piston aircraft.
Seating up to five adults and two children in a spacious and luxurious cabin, Cirrus says the Vision is designed for performance, affordability and safety.
“Today is simply a tremendous milestone for Cirrus," said Dale Klapmeier, CEO and Co-founder of Cirrus Aircraft. "We revolutionized general aviation with the introduction of the SR20 just over a decade ago. With more than 5,100 SR-series aircraft delivered to date, pilots, entrepreneurs, families and aviators of all kinds have embraced our dream. Today, that dream is renewed as we are on the cusp of an even bigger leap with the Cirrus Vision. Cirrus customers, employees and partners around the world are rightfully proud of this moment.”
The first flight of the Vision concept aircraft was in 2008. Detail design, systems verification and full flight envelope testing have been ongoing since that time. Today's investment, however, significantly increases the pace and momentum of the programme and allows the company to bring the jet to the market. In an effort to ramp up to certification and production, Cirrus Aircraft will accelerate hiring of engineers, designers and other related technical disciplines critical to the completion of the programme.
The Cirrus Vision development team, working with global design and vendor partners, is based at Cirrus Aircraft company headquarters in Duluth, Minn., and Vision jets will be assembled right alongside the SR20, SR22 and SR22T in the same Minnesota and North Dakota Cirrus Aircraft production facilities. Garmin (avionics and flight deck), Williams International (turbofan engine) and Triumph Group (trailing link landing gear) are just three of the strongest brands in aerospace that are members of the Vision supplier team.
Until 30th June 2012, the list price for a well-equipped Cirrus Vision SF50 is $1.72 million, with list price moving to $1.96 million from 1st July 2012.
Article Source : Arabian Aerospace
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