Cirrus SR22

[Jafar]

Had the pleasure of going up in one of these today. Probably not to exciting for you jet cats, but previously I'd only flown the two diamond trainers. Cool airplane. Kind of reminded me of the DA-40 only far more refined. Tons of power for its size and very sophisticated avionics for a little 4 seat job.

So what are your experiances with the SR-22?

 

[sstearns2]

It looks like a great airplane. They need to make the silly parachute thing an option so one can pick up the 100 odd pounds of useful load. They always show the airplane under the parachute landing in the flat desert. Noone wants to talk about what happens when you land in a tree or on the side of a moutain.

Their production numbers are getting pretty impressive. I think cessna will soon be (or maybe is already) religated to the low profit margin fleet orders.

Scott

 

[Flying Illini]

...if they could just figure out a way to make 'em more affordable! A sweet looking airplane though! Did you fly one with the PFD in it? I would love to get a chance to fly one just for the sidestick experience.

 

[2000flyer]

Sure does look like a great plane, however, how many folks (us typical folks that is) can afford $300,000+ for the SR22? For that kind-a dough I can get a used C185 on amphibs and have enough left over for gas/oil/mx for years to come and, frankly, have a lot more fun with it!

IMHO ofcourse.

2000Flyer

 

[AV1ATRX]

I had the opportunity to fly one of those the other day, too. Takeoff was like being in a piston space shuttle... Unbelievable what that thing can do and has for avionics. I got to fly a Lancair a few months ago and it is better, IMHO.

The only airplane I'll ever be able to afford can be fashioned from most any type of paper.

 

[mainah]

Fly one, love it. Wish the parachute wasn't there. Passengers always ask about it. Afraid I'll accidentily nod off for a second and they'll pull the thing. Climbs great, good range, nice cruise speeds. The door is a royal pain in the ass. Sometimes you pull from the wrong angle and it won't shut. Wish there was a handle up top to grab for shutting. The sidestick is great. Very easy to fly. It allows you so much more room in front. Makes the airplane feel more spacious. As was said above, wonderful avionics. The MFD is great for situational awareness. Overall great airplane. Highly recommend. Also, visit the factory in Duluth. Pretty cool.

 

[U of I Tweak]

Life limited airframe

I had a friend who's parents were looking at replacing their 182 with one. However, they discovered that the airframe is life limited to something like 4,000 hours. After that it's toast. I am a bit unsure as to where to confirm this.

 

[Crizz]

That doesnt seem right... that puts depriciation cost alone at $75/hr

They are beautiful birds though. I also toured the Duluth plant. Now that I have my CFI, I am gonna try and get a free demo ride. Supposedly they give out rides in the 22 to CFIs for free. You're then supposed to sell them to your students. lol

 

[BluDevAv8r]

Re: Life limited airframe

I had a friend who's parents were looking at replacing their 182 with one. However, they discovered that the airframe is life limited to something like 4,000 hours. After that it's toast. I am a bit unsure as to where to confirm this.

That is incorrect according to a friend of mine who is a Sales Director for Cirrus. It is a magnificent machine. I have about 30 hours in 22's and if it weren't for the $380k pricetag, I'd have one!

-Neal

 

[BluDevAv8r]

The best place for Cirrus info that I've found is at http://cirruspilots.org/ which is the Cirrus Owners and Pilot's Association Website. They also have a message board.

-Neal

 

[JimNtexas]

According to the Type Certificate , the SR22 airframe is life limited to 4350 hours, the SR20 airframe is life limited to 12000 hours.

Cirrus owners have told me that they expect/hope that the FAA will increase these numbers as experience with the aircraft increases.

 

[Whirlwind]

Re: Re: Re: Life limited airframe

Looks like another used-car salesman got in the airplane business with the rest of his buddies.

At a sales price of $380,000, looks like there's an additional $87 per hour direct cost. Hopefully, the TC will be amended to extend the life.

For what it is worth, it is already in progress. The testing is done and the paperwork was submitted to the FAA in November. Hopefully it should be done by the end of the year and the SR-22 will then have the same 12,000 hour life as the SR-20.

As for extending it further, that may well happen at some point, but it will be awhile before any ship in the fleet hits 12,000 hours.

For what it is worth, I've got about 10 hours in a SR-22 with the all glass cockpit. Sweet plane to fly, and if I had the cash, I'd own one.

Fly Safe!

 

[Jafar]

[B Did you fly one with the PFD in it? [/B]

Yes, It had the big glass display. That thing is awesome. Moving map display, everything you could want to know is available on that screen. Had the ILS approach we were shooting overlaid on it. Autopilot on the danm thing was like something on a big jet. It flew the whole approach right down to decision height. I had never experianced that level of automation.

The sidestick is real nice, too. It felt very precise, and was very easy to get used to.

My friend owns this thing, so hopefully I'll be going up in it again soon. I'll have to ask him what he thinks about the airframe life issue, I didn't know about that.

 

[BluDevAv8r]

According to the Type Certificate , the SR22 airframe is life limited to 4350 hours, the SR20 airframe is life limited to 12000 hours.

Cirrus owners have told me that they expect/hope that the FAA will increase these numbers as experience with the aircraft increases.

I wrote my friend and cc'd Jim's text and here is what he wrote back.

He's right, but the 'life limit extension' testing on the SR22 has been completed. It will be re-certified (retroactively) to 12,000 hours right after the first of the year.

-Neal

 

[BluDevAv8r]

Re: Re: Re: Life limited airframe

Looks like another used-car salesman got in the airplane business with the rest of his buddies.

Now that is a productive statement. This particular person worked for a Top 5 management consulting firm, has an MBA from a Top 10 business school, and has given over 1000 hours of dual and is a CFI/MEI.

What's your point? The airplane is awesome and is in the process of completely changing the GA industry. Read my post above about the limit being retroactively increased to 12,000 hours. If you buy new in 2003, you can depreciate 71% of the airplane in year 1. Not a bad tax savings if you have the income to write it off against, which most of these buyers do.

-Neal

 

[PCL_128]

For those of you in Atlanta, you don't need to shell out the whole 300K. There's an FBO at PDK that sells Fractions of a Cirrus. I think it's 1/6th shares. The FBO was featured in Flying about 3 months ago.

 

[BluDevAv8r]

For those of you in Atlanta, you don't need to shell out the whole 300K. There's an FBO at PDK that sells Fractions of a Cirrus. I think it's 1/6th shares. The FBO was featured in Flying about 3 months ago.

They are in NJ/NY too. It is called Air Shares Elite. www.airshareselite.com I think. More like a "professionally managed partnership" in my opinion. Good company though.

-Neal

 

[MarineGrunt]

Re: neal you never answer my post

neal

you never answer my post about when we can start to fly may be in dec?? jan??? or feb when neal when??????

thanks

Bruce

HPN

Bruce-
Neal is not going to answer you. It should be obvious that he doesn't want to fly with you anymore. Get a grip, because your pestering posts may get you banned from this board. Neal isn't the only instructor in the world, find someone else to fly with.

 

[88_MALIBU]

I have only flown one on a demo ride and loved it. I would think it would be a good choice for someone nervous of single engine ops... I know I would feel better flying this at night than an old Bonanza

 

[BluDevAv8r]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Life limited airframe

Your original post stated that your friend said the information about the airframe life-limit was incorrect. That is not a true statement. The t/c as it stands right now shows the 4300 or so hour life limit. I have had the misfortune to have to work with too many aircraft salesmen over the past 30 years, and have found that at least 75% or more cannot be trusted.
I am sure that Cirrus will eventually get the t/c changed...at least I hope they do because it is a great airplane (I have flown it). And, I hope he is correct that the problem will be solved early next year.

I think it was probably I who was incorrect because I probably misunderstood him with respect to the difference between it being tested for 12,000 and certified for 4,000. He is aware that it has only been certified to 4,000. He seems pretty confident that it will be recertified to 12,000, especially given the fact that the SR20 airframe has been recertified to 12,000 as well. Nonetheless, I apologize for the confusion.

I got defensive when you called him a "used car salesman" because he is anything but that. He is definitely one of those few sales guys that actually CAN be trusted. Cirrus went outside the model in recruiting sales people and hired primarily people that don't have any actualy aircraft sales experience, from what I understand. Again, I could be wrong but the few that I have met are ex-professional pilots, business people, consultants, etc...and they all have a CFI, for whatever that is worth.

-Neal

 

[sstearns2]

What does it mean when an airframe has a design life of a certain number of hours? Is it like a TBO that you can still legally fly past or does the airplane just turn into a pumpkin at 12000 hours?

It seems odd to me that they would life limit a composite airplane and not life limit the aluminum airplanes. Composites generally have fatigue properties far superior to metals.

Scott

 

[Weasil]

referral fee

As a flight instructor you can get a nice referral fee if one of your students buys a Cirrus. I believe it's like $1000 or so.

I havent flown one but it sure is a beautiful looking a/c. how does the price/performance compare with something like a lancair?

is it just the avionics that is wonderful (cause you can put those in other aircraft) or is it particularly fast etc... How high can they go?

 

[mainah]

max operating altitude is 17,000

 

[huncowboy]

Re: i may fly with him soon

mgrunt

you have no idia what you are talking about at all ok.

neal will in time fly with me again as neal is a verry verry good friend and always helps me so in time he will do it. OO my question is as to when? dec?? jan?? or feb when? thanks

Bruce
HPN

joke or jerk? he can't be real can he?

 

[Flying Illini]

nope

 

[Crizz]

WTF mates?

(http://members.cox.net/impunity/endofworld.swf)

 

[huncowboy]

Re: yes i am

huncowboy

yes i am real i am no jerk may be you are and it is NO JOKE ok!!!

i am asking neal when we can start out ounce a month flights again and how soon. can neal please till me as i said neal is a verry verry good and trusted friend and i enjoy flying with him a lot and just want to know will it be dec?? jan?? feb -when neal will it be thanks

Bruce

HPN

You could try to use smoke signs like Winnetou. That may work.

 

[liv'n_on_credit]

Cirrus not that great

I took a demo ride on a new SR22 that had 200 hours on it. True, it had phenomenal avionics and flew like it was on steroids, but the dash was falling apart and the paint was chipping away pretty bad on the leading edges.

For almost $300K, I would think that they would paint it so the paint doesn't chip away and the dash stays in place.