Cirrus Design Corporation closed the year 2007 with one of its most spectacular launchings: The Jet, the most expected plane in the company’s history. And to seal the petition, each one of its future clients made a deposit of 100 thousand dollars for that will be the first “personal jet" in this new market.

During the previous months to the presentation, the company had the total control of the proj- ect, of which only the personnel working directly with it knew about it. The

rest of the employees of the firm had knowledge a few hours before the official premier in Duluth, Minnesota. The first deliveries will be between 2009 and 2010.

 

The model in question will have fitted for the pilot and four passengers, one to its right and three centered seats. It may also be configured for seven persons, including a pair of small children seats.

We call it personal jet not for the size, but for being a natural extension of our line SR22, and as the SR22, The Jet is designed to be flown by is owner, with the ultimate in tech- nology, including the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS).

So, at the same time that it is technologi- cally advanced, it is designed to be exceptionally easy to fly, offering the clients the opportunity to change their life style with Cirrus”, said Alan Klapmeier, cofounder and CEO of the company.

  

Lack of More Details

Dale Klapmeier, cofounder and vicepresident of the firm, indicated that they are “in the pri- mary phase of design and development, and we would not like to limit ourselves in any way. It is important that any information that we present is accurate”. The rest of the details of the plane will be presented later.

“So far we can confirm that The Jet will be impelled by a silent, powerful, efficient and light Williams motor, which will give the air- craft great utility, economy and simplicity never seen before in this market ”, said the vice-president of the firm. In the design, the tail will be in a V shape, motor will be seated, integrated to the fuselage, what will be the trademark of the model.

Mike van Staagen, vice-president of Cirrus Development of Advances, said that “the information that we tired to protect during the past

few years, about the development of the project, was unusual. The flexibility of the model will surprise, being thought so that the operator is the owner. The design is configured precisely to maximize the flexi- bility of the owner. Mountain bikes, camping equip- ment, golf clubs, skis, big families... all fits. Any use can be given to its huge interior compartment, while you travel at 300 knots”.

 

Some Characteristics

■ Fuselage

Cirrus analyzed all the possible options in the shape and the materials for the fuselage. In par- ticular, the traditional “tube” designs, tradition- al in aviation, and the spherical.

■ Interiors, seats and doors

It is the only jet with two passenger doors and one more for luggage. The pilot and its compan- ion access their places moving back their seats, in such way that the comfort is more than in any other small or medium plane. The pilot and right side spaces are large and the view is extraordinary.

You can reach the three seats of the center file with total comfort, by both sides of the plane, and the shoulder space is excellent. However, in case that only four people travel, the passenger in the middle may pull its seat back, this way being alone in the back of the plane, with two roomy spaces to its sides.

The third file is considered for adults of less size or for children. Nevertheless, the space is so wide that you can travel com- fortable in short to medium distances.

In addition, if these seats are empty you may use the space for additional luggage, thus it can go in the Cirrus Jet from a bicycle, camping equipment, golf clubs to other house, sports or other kind of implements.

Luggage

The luggage space with external Access is very spacious, enough for that a family travels comfortably with their suitcases. Turbine

The Cirrus engineers made an exhaustive analysis for the location of the Williams tur- bine that equips the aircraft. Cirrus decided that the motor is located in the upper part of the fuselage, with an exit gas flow redirect- ed suitably for a better performance. Materials

Cirrus will use coal fiber, fiber glass of high resistance and are under consideration new and extraordinary materials.

Aerodynamics

The Cirrus engineers have made air tunnel proofs with excellent results; therefore the design will only have minor modifications.

 

 

 

Text: Laura Velázquez ± Photo: Cortesía de Cirrus Design