Cirrus Vision SJ50

Infobox Aircraft
name = Vision SJ50
type = Very light jet
manufacturer = Cirrus Design



caption = SJ50 mock-up
designer =
first flight = July 3, 2008
introduced =
retired =
status =
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built = 1 prototype
unit cost = not yet announced
variants with their own articles =

The Cirrus Vision SJ50 is a single engined, low-wing, seven seat, very light jet aircraft.

The aircraft was initially developed under the project name "The Jet", but Cirrus announced the final marketing name of "Vision SJ50" on July 9 2008.cite web |url = http://www.avweb.com/news/ebace/EBACE2008_Cirrus_TheJet_Update_Photos_197948-1.html |title = Cirrus Updates Jet Program, Shows Pictures |date = 2008-05-22 |author = Russ Niles |accessdate = 2008-04-23 ] cite web |url = http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=70095&section=homepage |title = Cirrus jet renamed |date = 2008-07-09 |author = Paul Passi |accessdate = 2008-07-10 ]

The prototype aircraft was first shown publicly first at the annual Cirrus Migration on June 26, 2008 cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/CirrusRollsOut_TheJet_198192-1.html|title = Cirrus Rolls Out 'The Jet' |accessdate = 2008-06-27|last = Niles|first = Russ|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = June] and first flown on Thursday, July 3, 2008. cite web|url = http://www.aero-news.net/#d|title = N280CJ Sees Light Under ALL Its Wheels |accessdate = 2008-07-03|last = Aero-news.net|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = July] cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Cirrus_TheJet_First_Flight_198239-1.html|title = Cirrus' The-Jet Flies, July 3 |accessdate = 2008-07-04|last = Pew|first = Glenn|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = July]

The SJ50 is intended to be a step up aircraft for pilots who have flown the Cirrus SR22.

Marketing

The Vision SJ50 is not intended to compete with very light jets like the Eclipse 500 and the Cessna Citation Mustang. It is intended for the personal use market and will be comparable to the Diamond Aircraft Industries D-Jet. It will be equipped with a Ballistic Recovery Systems parachute, as all Cirrus aircraft are and will be made of a composite material. Certification expected in the next few years.

Cirrus began taking $100,000 deposits for the aircraft in 2006. Initially, as a public relations exercise, the company gave deposit holders a drawing of the aircraft in the form of a jigsaw puzzle, one piece at a time. On 28 June 2007, the entire puzzle was completed, and the aircraft's configuration was unveiled. cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/news/snf/SunNFun2007_CirrusThe-Jet_JigsawPuzzle_195000-1.html|title = Cirrus 'the-jet' Image Emerges|accessdate = 2007-12-31|last = Niles|first = Russ|authorlink = |year = 2007|month = April]

Released Information

In December 2006 Cirrus announced that its product will be the "slowest, lowest, and cheapest jet available." The Vision SJ50 will be powered by a single Williams FJ33-4A-19 engine, producing convert|1900|lbf|N of thrust and is expected to cruise at about convert|300|kn|km/h. The jet's certification target is 2010.

A mock up of the aircraft was displayed at the annual Cirrus Migration 2007.

The Vision SJ50 will seat seven people. The cockpit will have two seats, and the second row will have two seats as will the third row. There will be a seat that can slide between the second and third row. The aircraft will have two doors, and the parachute will be located in the nose.

The L-3 SmartDeck been chosen as the avionics package for the development phase of the Vision SJ50. [cite web |url = http://www.avweb.com/news/nbaa/NBAA2007_CirrusDesign_L3CommunicationsSmartDeck_196234-1.html |title = L-3 SmartDeck Chosen for Cirrus Jet Prototype |date = 2007-09-27 |author = Russ Niles |accessdate = 2007-09-28 ]

On 22 May 2008, at EBACE 2008, Cirrus CEO Alan Klapmeier confirmed that the aircraft may be brought to AirVenture 2008 if the test pilots think it is ready to do so. The company currently has 400 refundable deposits of USD$100,000 for the aircraft. Klapmeier expects the first production jet to be delivered in 2012. [cite web |url = http://www.aopa.org/oshkosh08/articles/080730cirrus.html
title = Cirrus Vision SJ50 quietly greets public |date = 2008-07-30 |author = Alton K. Marsh |accessdate = 2008-08-06 ]

Operators

SATSair, an air taxi company 25% owned by Cirrus, has ordered five Cirrus Vision SJ50s to add to its current fleet of Cirrus SR22 piston aircraft. The company intends to order an additional number of the jets in the future. [cite web |url = http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=busav&id=news/SATS08018.xml |title = SATSair Will Order Cirrus Vision SJ50 |date = 2007-07-31 |author = George C. Larson |accessdate = 2008-08-06 ] cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/CirrusSJ50VisionJetChosen_ForSATSairAirTaxiOperations_198552-1.html|title = Cirrus SJ50 Vision Jet Chosen For SATSair Air-Taxi Operations |accessdate = 2008-08-07|last = Grady|first = Mary|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = August]

Production location

On December 27 2007 Cirrus Design secured a lease for former Northwest Airlines hangar at Duluth International Airport, indicating that it will use the convert|189000|sqft|m2|sing=on building for construction of the Cirrus jet project. cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/CirrusDesign_TheJet_Plant_DuluthMinnesota_196855-1.html|title = Cirrus Secures Jet Plant Space|accessdate = 2007-12-31|last = Saini|first = Meredith|authorlink = |year = 2007|month = December]

Specifications (Vision SJ50)

*Crew: 1-2
*Capacity: 7
*Height: TBD
*Length: TBD
*Weight (Empty): TBD
*Wingspan: 38.4 feet (11.7 m)
*Max takeoff weight: TBD
*Cabin payload: 1,000 lb (450 kg)
*Maximum fuel: 1,800 lb (820 kg)
*full fuel payload: 300 lb (140 kg)
*Pressurization 5.5 psi, providing a maximum cabin altitude of convert|8000|ft|m at FL 250

Performance

*Powerplant: 1 × Williams FJ33-4A-19
*Thrust: 1,900 lbf (8.5 kN)
*Cruise speed: ~ convert|300|kn|km/h
*Range: ~ 1,000 nm (1,900 km)
*Rate of climb: ~3,000 ft/min (15 m/s)
*Service Ceiling: 25,000 feet (7,600 m)

See also

*Diamond D-Jet
*Cirrus SR22
*Very light jet

References

* [http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/12_42b/leadnews/the_jet_cirrus_williams_193496-1.html Troutvetter, Chad, "More On "the jet" From Cirrus Design, Avweb story October 19, 2006, accessed 11 Nov 06]
* [http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/12_40b/leadnews/cirrus_taking_jet_orders_193349-1.html Niles, Russ, "Cirrus Taking Jet Orders" Avweb story October 5, 2006, accessed 11 Nov 06]
* [http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/11_43b/leadnews/190860-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Niles, Russ, "Cirrus Talks Jets..." Avweb story October 27, 2005, accessed 11 Nov 06]
* "Taking Deposits - Cirrus Reveals More Details on "The-Jet"," Flying (magazine) January 2007
* [http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?ContentBlockID=994a3bc4-32db-46a9-a6a2-1a12b3d78f78 "Cirrus Private Release"]
* [http://www.startribune.com/535/story/1275392.html "Cirrus Jet Information"]
* [http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Cirrus_Unveils_Seven_Place_Personal_Jet_195513-1.html "The Jet Information"]
* [http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/cirrus-single-engine-jet-could-fly-in-two-years/?no_cache=1&cHash=454e66ead7 Cirrus Jet Could fly in two Years]

External links

* [http://www.cirrusdesign.com Cirrus Design]
* [http://www.the-jet.com Official site]
* [http://the-jet.com/pdf/group_web.pdf Cirrus Jet press release]
* [http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Cirrus_TheJet_First_Flight_198239-1.html First flight photos]