Category: Cirrus SR22

Here’s a Cirrus owner’s view of the GA piston market

2008 Cirrus Perspective SR22TN Turbo, photo credit wikiWings
2008 Cirrus Perspective SR22TN Turbo, photo credit wikiWings

In February, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA.aero) released their 2016 annual report. It presents declining piston engine shipments which is disappointing news for GA but that’s not the whole story. Some manufacturers are increasing sales.  In 2016, Cirrus shipped 5.3% more planes than the prior year.  And, Cirrus piston shipments last year were up 14.9% over year-end numbers for 2013. That’s good.

It’s a trend that’s also being seen in Cirrus pre-owned aircraft sales.  Compared to four years ago, availability has changed significantly because more pilots are shifting into Cirrus planes and taking them off the market. Supply slack is just gone in certain Cirrus pre-owned models. Continue reading “Here’s a Cirrus owner’s view of the GA piston market” →

Cirrus Vision Jet has a 1-billion-dollar sales backlog!

Cirrus Vision SF50 Jet assembly fuselage, photo credit Wire magazine 2017
Cirrus Vision SF50 Jet assembly fuselage, photo credit Wire magazine 2017

Pat Waddick, Cirrus Aircraft’s president of innovation and operations recently said the company has more than 600 jet customers waiting for their airplanes to be delivered.  This is great news for the General Aviation industry and American manufacturing.  This sales number has been mentioned in aviation articles, but the discussion quickly moves on to another topic.

Cirrus jets are priced at about $2 million apiece which makes these sales a $1,200,000,000 book of business!  Each customer has paid $100K upfront. That’s $60M in deposit payments! Has there ever been a light aircraft pre-sales book of business comparable to this in the history of GA?

Who are these Vision Jet customers? Why did they write that $100,000 deposit check years ago? What compelled a decision even before the jet was certified? Many of the position holders want to remain

Cirrus Vision SF50 Jet Exterior Engine, photo credit Wired magazine 2017
Cirrus Vision SF50 Jet Exterior Engine, photo credit Wired magazine 2017

anonymous.  But we do know ~75% of them are Cirrus piston pilots.  And, the book of business is global.  About eighty of the 600 early position jets are scheduled for Latin America alone.

Most light aircraft manufacturers’ shipments are flat or seeing a slowdown.  Naysayers complain the outlook isn’t changing.  But the view only changes for the leader – as they say in dog-sledding.  Cirrus innovation is winning sales and transforming GA.  We need to see more of that.

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What is the Cirrus Vision Jet’s competitor operating cost?

For these comparisons, the 2016 Conklin and de Decker operating cost report for jets and turboprops was used. The Cirrus Vision SF50 Personal Jet has the lowest variable operating cost among any jet on the market ($595 per hour).  And, here’s what some pilots are calling a competitor list of competing products: Continue reading “What is the Cirrus Vision Jet’s competitor operating cost?” →

What’s the Cirrus Vision SF50 Jet operating cost?

2017 Cirrus Vision SF50 Personal Jet, photo credit wikiWings
2017 Cirrus Vision SF50 Personal Jet, photo credit wikiWings

At $595.30 per hour, the Cirrus Vision SF50 Personal Jet has the lowest variable operating cost among any jet on the market.  That expense number is from the 2016 Conklin and de Decker operating costs for jets and turboprops. For the second year, AOPA Pilot has offered the exclusive report to its members.  You can view the full report on AOPA’s website.

At the Cirrus Austin Texas Get Together (CATGT) I spoke with Justin Dillion, a Cirrus Vision Jet pilot.  He’s the Senior Regional Sales Director for the Western United States. Justin was familiar with the Conklin and de Decker operating cost report.  But he said, true operating cost for the Cirrus Vision Jet is slightly higher at about $650 per hour. It’s still the lowest operating cost among any jet on the market.

At FL280, the Vision Jet burns about 65 gallons per hour and has a TAS above 300 knots.

Justin proceeded to tell me about the Cirrus Vision Jet concierge maintenance program.  It’s complete coverage nose to tail.  Even normal wear and tear items like tires and brakes are included.  You choose the concierge package from 1 – 3 years.  Then all you pay for is fuel.  Yep, gotta have that – just gas and go.  Contact your local Cirrus Sales Representative for details or keep in touch here.  I may write about the Vision Jet concierge program in a future post. Continue reading “What’s the Cirrus Vision SF50 Jet operating cost?” →

You can save $38K on fixed expenses in a shared airplane ownership

Over the past several months, we’ve reviewed “fixed expenses” associated with airplane ownership and have organized them into three groups: Yearly Fixed; Life Limited Components; and Other Fixed Costs.  You can review detailed information about each of these by clicking the links below.

  1. Yearly fixed cost
  2. Life Limited Components
  3. Other fixed cost

This article summarizes Yearly Expenses, Life Limited Components and Other Fixed Costs incurred for operating a Cirrus SR22 over a 3-year period and for about 600 hours. In just a few years, you could save $38,000 on fixed expenses in a shared airplane partnership instead of individual ownership. Continue reading “You can save $38K on fixed expenses in a shared airplane ownership” →

Here’s a summary of other fixed airplane operating expenses

Over a three-year period of ownership we’ve experienced “other” fixed operating expenses.   These items are really not considered Life Limited Components or recurring yearly costs for operating an aircraft under part 91.  It’s a group of costs we’d categorized as “ other fixed expenses.” Continue reading “Here’s a summary of other fixed airplane operating expenses” →

Here’s a summary of yearly airplane ownership fixed cost

What are the yearly fixed expenses for airplane ownership? Typically, the list starts with insurance, subscriptions, hangar, annual, and lease payments – if there is a loan on your aircraft. Just those items alone can total to more than $13,000 per year.  Want to save 50% – 75%? Continue reading “Here’s a summary of yearly airplane ownership fixed cost” →

Here’s a cost summary of life limited items on Cirrus Aircraft

Aircraft Life limited Components are a category of airplane fixed expenses. Life Limited Components expire based on a set number of calendar days and are typically not serviced based on airplane flight hours for part 91 operators. Continue reading “Here’s a cost summary of life limited items on Cirrus Aircraft” →