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initial and recurrent training, as well as serve as a factory service center. Cirrus envisions the Knoxville campus to be an all-encompassing owner experience, where owners want to drop in to visit even if they don’t have business there.
Flying the Vision Jet
When Cirrus contacted me about f lying the Vision Jet, they wanted me to evaluate the aircraft not just by its handling characteristics and performance metrics, although that is always part of the process. Owning a Vision Jet is a lifestyle. Thus, they wanted me to experience the jet as their owners would: on a real trip. Although schedule conflicts prevented us from flying the two-day “real-world” trip they proposed, I spent a full day learning about and flying the jet on a two- hour roundtrip flight from my Kansas City home base.
On the ramp, the Vision Jet sets itself apart with its trademark V-tail “ruddervator,” which allows the single Williams FJ33-5A to exhaust between the tails. Bergwall pointed out the aircraft’s yaw stability augmentation system that comprises of two small surfaces on the aft end of the strakes on the empennage. From the runway to 200 feet AGL, the surfaces automatically provide a “weak” yaw damp. After 200 feet, the yaw damp kicks in with more force.
With the engine mounted high and aft on the aircraft, one naturally wonders about awkward pitch behavior. Bergwall pointed out that the angle of the engine intake creates a bit of a visual illusion as the thrust line is aligned with the aircraft’s water line as seen if you look at the exhaust cone of the aircraft. The trailing link gear is a nice feature as it is useful crosswind landings and ensures a smooth landing just about every time.
There is very little to check on the walkaround except the oil, which is accessible by a small spring-loaded door. For this 5-foot 8-inch pilot, I would need a stool to see it as it’s located fairly high on the nacelle. The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) is enclosed in the nose of the aircraft and can be deployed at altitudes greater than 1,000 AGL. To deploy it, the pilot pulls handle and if at airspeeds greater than 135 kts. KIAS, the autopilot will engage to level the wings and slow down. The system then uses a small rocket and inflators to get the parachute up and over the tail and engine.
After the visual inspection, we were ready to launch. The clamshell door is at a slant that makes it more natural to get into the cockpit and then move the seat up for others to climb aboard. Once seated, the cockpit is dramatically uncluttered. Bergwall noted
Incorporating the
Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) into the Vision Jet was a design priority for Cirrus. The parachute can be deployed above 1,000 feet AGL.
The Vision Jet will feel familiar to SR pilots with throttle, sidestick, aps and switches in similar locations. The Garmin Perspective integrated ight deck offers a plethora of workload-saving and safety features. The panoramic windscreen is among the best in the owner- own turbine category.
February 2018
Cirrus Vision Jet
Specifications
Base price................................................... ~$2 million Powerplants ...................Williams FJ33-5A 1,800 lbsf De-ice system (wing and tail)..........Pneumatic boots; De-ice system (engine inlet) ...........................bleed air De-ice system (windshield) ...........................TKS uid Length................................................................. 30.7 ft Height ................................................................. 10.9 ft Wingspan ........................................................... 38.7 ft Seats.................................................................... 1+5/6 Cabin width............................................................5.1 ft Cabin height ......................................................... 4.1 in
Weights
Empty weight .................................................. 3,572 lb Maximum ramp weight................................... 6,040 lb Maximum takeoff weight ................................ 6,000 lb Useful load....................................................... 2,499 lb Payload w/max fuel............................................ 498 lb Zero fuel weight............................................... 4,900 lb Fuel capacity.................................................... 2,000 lb
Performance
Max operating altitude ...................................28,000 ft High-speed cruise, FL280 ........................... 300 KTAS Range – economy cruise, FL280.................. 1,200 nm Takeoff distance ...............................................2,036 ft Takeoff distance over 50-foot obstacle ........... 3,192 ft Landing distance.............................................. 1,628 ft Stall speed with aps...................................... 67 KIAS Vle (max gear extended) ............................... 210 KIAS Vfe (max aps extended)....................................... 190 KIAS
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