Just as it was announcing features of the 2014 models of the SR20 and SR22, Cirrus also reported this week that development and testing work on the SF50 single-engine jet is moving rapidly forward with the construction of three test aircraft that begin advance flight testing next year.
At AOPA Summit in Fort Worth, Texas, Cirrus CEO Pat Waddick told AVweb that Cirrus has over 500 deposits on the five-place jet, with the order book still building. The jet program is now proceeding full-tilt, with more than 200 people working on the aircraft in both Duluth, Minn., and Grand Forks, N.D. In addition to engineering and production details, Waddick says Cirrus is focusing on training service and support details so the aircraft commercializes nicely.
Waddick said Cirrus just completed assembly details on what will eventually be three flight test articles that will begin intensive testing during 2014. Those aircraft will be built using the same production equipment Cirrus hopes to use for production aircraft. First deliveries are scheduled in 2015. For more on the SF50 VisionJet, see todays video report from AOPA Summit.
