Overview
The SR-22 single engine aircraft built by Cirrus Design of Duluth, Minnesota, represents an entire new breed of airplane design. The technological advancements of Cirrus aircraft are readily noticed in two areas: composite construction and superior wing design.
The Cirrus airframe is built primarily with a durable, corrosion-resistant pre-impregnated fiberglass, which is sandwiched around a porous foam core that adds strength with minimal weight. With minimal seams and a low-drag surface, the Cirrus can reach higher cruise speeds using a fuel-efficient powerplant, even with fixed gear and one of the widest cabins in its class.
The Cirrus wing is an innovative blend of airfoils that delivers solid performance at high-speed cruise and has exceptional stall characteristics. The high wing loading provides a smooth ride in turbulence. As a percentage of the wing chord, the airfoil allows a relatively broad center of gravity for greater flexibility in loading the aircraft.
The 310-horsepower engine produces 1,000 feet per minute climb rate through 12,000 feet. Because of the speed, typical range is in excess of 1,000 nautical miles.
Cirrus aircraft are designed around the human form. Side control yokes give you freedom of leg movement and an unobstructed view of your flight instruments. The seats were ergonomically designed to mold to any shape of body. Flexible adjustment options give left and right seat pilots of any height a comfortable sight line over the instrument panel. The cabin, at 49 inches is wider than most single-engine airplanes. Combining throttle and propeller into power control minimizes pilot workload considerably.
Standard avionics includes: Avidyne Entegra Primary Flight Display [PFD], Avidyne FlightMax EX5000C Multi-Function Display [MFD], GMA 340 Audio panel, GNS 430 Color GPS/COM/NAV, GNS 420 Color GPS/COM, GTX 327 Transponder, S-TEC 55SR Autopilot. Options include ice protection, Skywatch taffic information, WX-500 Stormscope and Emax Engine and Fuel Monitoring.
Cirrus designed the aircraft with a number of safety features built-in. The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) will lower the entire aircraft to the ground when all alternatives to land have been exhausted. The aerodynamically advanced Cirrus wing is specifically designed to avoid an accidental spin in inadvertent low altitude stalls. The TKS-based weeping wing ice protection system allows the pilot to escape from inadvertent icing conditions. Cirrus uses a composite main gear and a 3g-roll cage to absorb energy in the event of a hard landing. Four-point harness systems with inertia reels are combined with rugged 26g seats, and control yokes are positioned on the side to prevent serious injury.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
