Tag: Parachute

Cirrus Aircraft Launches Limited Edition to Commemorate 8,000th Delivery

February 6, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Cirrus Aircraft today unveiled a new Limited Edition aircraft to commemorate the delivery of its 8,000^th SR Series aircraft later this year – the 8000 Limited Edition SR Series. Inspired by the company’s rich history of designing and building aircraft that inspire people to experience the world through personal aviation, the new design features bold colors and unapologetic accents on the exterior and interior.

Echoing the momentum of the runway lines as you prepare for take-off, the 8000 Limited Edition SR Series features an exterior that is impossible to miss. The design is accentuated by an industry-first Volt wing paint scheme, commanding attention on the ground and in the air. The unmistakable graphics and colors carry through into the interior with Volt stitching on the seats and embroidery on the door, and luxury perforated leather on the seats and throttle. In addition to the exciting new design, each of the limited run of eight (8) exclusive 8000 Limited Edition aircraft will be delivered along with a curated series of gifts and events for the new owners.

Cirrus Aircraft’s first high-performance SR Series airplane – the SR20 – was delivered in 1999 and transformed general aviation with intuitive avionics, game-changing performance and revolutionary safety systems, including the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®). The SR Series has been the world’s best-selling single-engine piston for 18 years in a row, with a portfolio that includes the SR20, SR22 and the turbocharged SR22T. Later this year, the company will deliver its 8000^th SR Series aircraft and exceed 11 million flight hours in more than 60 countries around the world.

The sixth generation SR Series – G6 SR Series – quickly reaffirmed Cirrus Aircraft’s position as the industry leader and, once again, raised the benchmark for high performance, single-engine aircraft. The 2017 G6 SR Series launched the high-speed Cirrus Perspective+^TM by Garmin® flight deck, Cirrus Spectra^TM wingtip lighting, premium cockpit connectivity solutions and more. In the following years, the G6 SR Series was further enhanced with flight deck upgrades and new features in connectivity, including the Cirrus Aircraft mobile app powered by Cirrus IQ™ for access to real-time aircraft data from virtually anywhere in the world, flight data streaming and the ability to text or call contacts on the ground with FlightStream 510.

The 8000 Limited Edition SR Series was imagined and designed by the Xi Design Studio – Cirrus Aircraft’s talented in-house personalization team. The Limited Edition continues to expand the Xi Design Studio’s ability to incorporate luxury automobile-inspired details, handcrafted finishes and customization defined and inspired by the owner’s imagination.

SpaceX Dragon Resupply Mission (CRS-19) Splashdown

January 10, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

Packed with about 3,800 pounds of cargo and science, SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft departed the International Space Station on Tuesday, January 7. A parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean occurred that morning just west of Baja California. A recovery team then secured Dragon on a boat for the return trip to the Port of Los Angeles, wrapping up SpaceX’s 19th resupply mission to the space station.

Filled with approximately 5,700 pounds of supplies and payloads, Dragon launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket on December 5, 2019 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida and arrived at the space station on December 8. The Dragon spacecraft supporting the CRS-19 mission previously supported the CRS-4 mission in September 2014 and the CRS-11 mission in June 2017. Dragon is the only spacecraft currently flying that is capable of returning significant amounts of cargo to Earth.

Cirrus Aircraft Revolutionizes Passenger Safety through Autonomous Flight with Safe Return Emergency Autoland

November 2, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Duluth, Minn. and Knoxville, Tenn. (30 October 2019) – Cirrus Aircraft, the global leader in personal aviation, ushered in a new era of innovation today with the introduction of Safe Return^TM – a revolutionary emergency autoland system that enables passengers to land the Vision Jet^TM with just the touch of a single button. Once activated when available, Safe Return assumes control of the aircraft and transforms the Vision Jet into an autonomous vehicle that navigates to the nearest suitable airport for landing, communicates with air traffic control, lands and brings the aircraft safely to a complete stop. The Vision Jet, with both Safe Return and the award-winning Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®), provides a comprehensive, must-have total safety solution unique to G2 Vision Jet operators.

“Our mission is to make personal aviation more accessible by continuing to improve passenger comfort and safety,” said Zean Nielsen, Cirrus Aircraft Chief Executive Officer. “Safe Return delivers the next step towards autonomous flight, bringing a new level of confidence to the overall flying experience by providing the ultimate level of safety and control to passengers. Together, with the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®), we have once again set a new standard for safety in personal air travel.”

Easily accessible by passengers in the Vision Jet cabin, Safe Return is activated by the touch of a button when available. Once pressed, the autonomous system analyzes terrain and datalink weather to determine the optimal airport for landing, and simultaneously begins communication with Air Traffic Control (ATC). Powered by the Perspective Touch+^TM by Garmin® flight deck, Safe Return utilizes all available aircraft data streams, including available fuel, to safely navigate the Vision Jet to the identified airport and transition on to final approach for the appropriate runway based on ground winds. Autothrottle – launched earlier this year on the new G2 Vision Jet –and the automatic flight control system manage the aircraft’s speed, altitude and path, while the system automatically lowers the flaps and landing gear on final approach. Safe Return culminates in the aircraft making a fully autonomous landing on the intended runway and coming to a complete stop, allowing passengers to exit the aircraft.

Included during this entire process is constant communication with ATC – another layer of autonomy that provides assurance to passengers experiencing a critical situation. Upon activation, Safe Return immediately transmits an emergency message to ATC. Using text and speech technology, the system communicates the aircraft’s intentions over the appropriate ATC frequency, the 121.5 emergency voice frequency, and also switches to the universal emergency transponder code. ATC is automatically updated at regular intervals of the aircraft’s location, emergency situation and intended airport landing location. These communications begin the process of activating emergency services at the airport of intended landing to assist the passenger and pilot upon arrival. Safe Return can be easily disengaged by the pilot with a simple press of the Autopilot disconnect button on the yoke if a passenger inadvertently activates the system.

In 2016, Cirrus Aircraft ushered in a new era in personal transportation with the FAA certification of the world’s first single-engine Personal Jet – the Vision Jet. The turbine aircraft defined a new category in aviation – the Personal Jet^TM – with its spacious pilot and passenger-friendly cabin featuring panoramic windows, reclining seats, comfortable legroom for five adults and two children and the only turbine aircraft with a whole airframe parachute system as standard equipment. Earlier this year, Cirrus Aircraft unveiled and began delivery of the G2 Vision Jet, offering enhanced performance, comfort and safety with increased cruise altitude, speed and range, and a newly-upgraded Perspective Touch+^TM by Garmin® flight deck. The company expects to begin delivery of Vision Jets equipped with Safe Return in early 2020.

More information on Safe Return and the G2 Vision Jet can be found at www.cirrusaircraft.com/visionjet.

Cirrus Aircraft Unveils TRAC Series Flight Training Aircraft

September 28, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Duluth, Minn. & Knoxville, Tenn. – Cirrus Aircraft has announced the TRAC Series, a purpose-built configuration of the best-selling SR Series line of aircraft developed specifically for flight training institutions. The TRAC Series is thoughtfully crafted with reliability, durability and economy in mind to meet the rigors of high-tempo flight operations, while providing industry-leading safety and performance for both the pilot trainee and flight instructor. Combining the Perspective+^TM by Garmin® flight deck along with the unrivaled performance and safety uniquely found in the SR Series, the TRAC Series includes tailored features such as rear seat push-to-talk functionality and a landing gear simulator aimed at increasing training productivity.

“Our commitment to flight training goes far beyond innovation in aircraft design to include a unique approach to attracting and training future generations of aviators,” said Zean Nielsen, CEO at Cirrus Aircraft. “The TRAC Series delivers a 21^st century solution for world-class, forward-thinking flight training institutions.”

Designed to be the ultimate training platform, the technologically-advanced TRAC Series boasts an impressive list of features and capabilities that complement the aircraft’s stable flight characteristics. The integrated Perspective+ flight deck includes two large flight displays, a Flight Management System (FMS) keypad controller, an Electronic Stability and Protection system, as well as integrated engine indication and crew alerting/warning systems – all features found on today’s advanced airliners.

“Premier flight programs around the world continue to select Cirrus Aircraft for their training fleets,” said David Moser, Vice President of Fleet & Special Mission Aircraft Sales at Cirrus Aircraft. “These partnerships have been instrumental in our development of the technologically-advanced, cost-effective TRAC platform designed exclusively for leading flight academies and universities across the globe.”

Cirrus Aircraft has redesigned the interior to meet the unique needs of a high-utilization training environment, replacing the luxury materials found in the SR Series with a durable all-weather floor liner and easy to clean wear-resistant seats. The spacious cabin provides an optimal workspace to learn and train, with more space than typical training aircraft, rear seats for additional students or observers and optional air conditioning for comfort in all seasons.

The TRAC SR20 comes equipped with a modern Lycoming IO-390, 215HP power plant, providing reliability and efficiency for up to 2,400 hours before overhaul, and features a durable all-composite airframe structure with the signature Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®), making the TRAC Series one of the safest and most versatile training airplanes available today. The TRAC Series is further enhanced by a wide array of interactive, tailored flight training content through Cirrus Approach^TM, including online courses, engaging videos and the award-winning iFOM (interactive Flight Operations Manual) for convenient learning anywhere in the world.

With the TRAC Series, Cirrus Aircraft is poised to expand an already impressive list of world-class flight training programs around the globe that operate fleets of Cirrus aircraft, including Emirates Airline, Lufthansa Aviation Training, the United States Air Force Academy, Airbus Flight Academy, Western Michigan University, Oklahoma State University, Japan Civil Aviation College, the Royal Saudi Air Force and many more.

Cirrus Aircraft Announces New Chief Executive Officer

June 5, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Duluth, Minn. and Knoxville, Tenn. (4 June 2019) – Cirrus Aircraft announced today that Zean Nielsen has been selected to succeed Co-founder Dale Klapmeier as its next Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Nielsen has held senior leadership roles at a range of global world-class organizations, including Tesla Motors, James Hardie and Bang & Olufsen.

“Cirrus Aircraft has a remarkably bright future ahead,” noted Dale Klapmeier, Co-founder and National Aviation Hall of Fame member. “We are fortunate to have someone of Zean’s caliber and experience to lead us into the next era of growth. I am looking forward to moving into a Senior Advisory role and continuing to work with our exceptional team on reinventing the future of personal transportation.”

“I am honored and humbled to join this team of experienced general aviation leaders and a world-class workforce as we continue to bring game-changing products and services to market,” said Zean Nielsen, CEO of Cirrus Aircraft. “Our mission is to deliver an aviation experience that is the pinnacle of innovation, quality and safety to our customers – and that is exactly what we will continue to do for many years to come.”

Zean most recently served as the Executive Vice President of North American Sales at James Hardie, a leading industrial building materials company. Prior to his role at James Hardie, Nielsen ran all aspects of Tesla Motors worldwide sales operations efforts as the Vice President of Global Sales Operations. Zean began his career at Bang & Olufsen, the luxury electronics maker, where over a 17 year career he ascended to more senior roles before he ultimately became the President of Bang & Olufsen North and South America, prior to joining Tesla Motors.

Nielsen assumed the CEO role at Cirrus Aircraft on 3 June 2019.

About Cirrus Aircraft

Cirrus Aircraft is the recognized global leader in personal aviation and the maker of the best-selling SR Series piston aircraft and the Vision JetTM, the world’s first single-engine Personal JetTM, as well as the recipient of the Robert J. Collier Trophy. Founded in 1984, the company has redefined performance, comfort and safety in aviation with innovations like the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®) – the first FAA-certified whole-airframe parachute safety system included as standard equipment on an aircraft. To date, worldwide flight time on Cirrus aircraft has passed 10.5 million hours and 172 people have returned home safely to their families as a result of the inclusion of CAPS as a standard feature on all Cirrus aircraft. The company has four locations in the United States, located in Duluth, Minnesota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, Knoxville, Tennessee and McKinney, Texas.

Cirrus Aircraft Launches Limited Edition to Commemorate 8,000th Delivery

SpaceX Dragon Resupply Mission (CRS-19) Splashdown

Cirrus Aircraft Revolutionizes Passenger Safety through Autonomous Flight with Safe Return Emergency Autoland

Cirrus Aircraft Unveils TRAC Series Flight Training Aircraft

Cirrus Aircraft Announces New Chief Executive Officer

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