August 2, 1998 Cirrus Design SR-20 Closing on Certification

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by	Michael Maya Charles

About the Author ... Michael Maya Charles made it to the left seat of a major airline via the long, slow, flight instruction-charter-corporate route, but never left general aviation in the process. He is still an active GA pilot who has flown hundreds of different aircraft in his 30 years of flying. Charles also holds an A&P certificate, and restored and maintains the beautiful red 1979 Cessna 185 Skywagon (N301MC) that he currently owns. He is an established aviation writer who is perhaps best known for his "Pro's Nest" column in FLYING magazine and numerous features in AOPA Pilot. He offers his varied expertise as an aviation consultant and expert witness for the legal and insurance industry, and maintains his own aviation safety web site, Air Safety Experts.

Cirrus Design of Duluth, MN announced today at Oshkosh that they have completed the FAA-required airframe parachute deployment tests. These tests have proven to the FAA that the airplane is capable of being dropped safely to the earth at about 26 fps from low speeds, high speeds and even spins. The unique parachute recovery system, developed for Cirrus by BRS Parachutes, is the first to allow a pilot to deploy a large parachute in flight to save the occupants. The aircraft, according to the company would most probably be destroyed.

Cirrus president, Alan Klapmeier told the packed crowd outside Exhibit Building B that they had hoped to have all FAA certification testing done by now, but they are "down to the short list" of required testing including tests for the high impact seat. With 195 non-refundable deposits in hand, the company is trying to finish the conformity testing, to show the FAA that their aircraft conforms with their test data, then they must finish the required paperwork, and obtain a production certificate to manufacture the aircraft. If these hurdles can be cleared, the customers would get their airplanes by "the end of the year" according to Klapmeier.

With all the hoopla and questions about the parachute recovery system, it was hard to remember that the slick, composite Cirrus SR20 will be a high performance single engine fixed-gear airplane, offering the owner a comfortable cabin, a truly modern instrument panel complete with an ARNAV ICDS Multi-Function display for GPS moving map, engine monitoring, flight planning and checklist. The aircraft will be equipped with side-sticks, single lever power controls, and large windows for excellent visibility, especially for rear seat passengers. With its Continental 200hp IO-360, cruise speed is projected to be 160 knots on 10.4 GPS, and a gross weight climb rate of 1000FPM. Stall speed is published at 54 knots, allowing landing distances of 1500 feet over a 50 foot obstacle.

The current price for the fully IFR equipped Cirrus SR20 is $168,800.

Cirrus Design also announced financing and leasing packages for the SR20 through a newly formed subsidiary, Cirrus Aircraft Finance. The company has teamed with Cambridge Leasing and MBNA to offer competitive financing for up to 90 percent of the purchase price of the aircraft for 20 years. Long and short term leasing options are also offered.