Cirrus Vision SF50: Would You Buy this Jet?
 

Assume of course that you have the money and/or credit to buy a new VLJ, and a reasonable amount of need and use for one, as well as enough time to wait for any competitor that you would prefer. See table below for a list of the latter.

Cirrus Raising Funds to Make the Vision Jet

(AOPA ePilot 06/04) Development of the Vision SF50 personal single-engine jet by Cirrus Design continues on a daily basis, but it will take an additional $64 million to bring it to market. That’s why Cirrus officials see 2010 as the year for fundraising. If funding is found this year, next year will be devoted to the construction of a conforming prototype known as C0 (conforming zero). Once that aircraft is flying, it will be 18 months before deliveries could begin.

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Would I trust Cirrus to build a decent airplane, and have a realistic business plan when I fork over a deposit? Yes.

Looks like the C-jet will be short on TAS compared to the others, but will carry 6 folks and has the lowest price (Eclipse doesn't count...they failed).

In the jet market it's all about tradeoffs relative to the mission you have in mind. I would need to know the mission and the range too. I suspect low TAS means straight wing and longer range so yeah it looks like a good deal if the price holds. I would not pay an extra million for another 50 KTAS.

I think somebody bought the leftovers of Eclipse, so not sure if it's completely done.

I voted that I'd buy one, but if I really wanted a great personal airplane, I'd probably buy the Cessna. Dealer support around the world, very very experienced builder, proven design, already several generations of design along.

Don't know enough about a Honda or Cirrus to comment on them, plus they're both going to be new, meaning not ready for prime time.

And the Cessna has two engines the Cirrus does not. Flying at night over rough terrain in any single gives me the willy's.

I think the Diamond and Piper will be worthy competitors, but both are also single engine. Only the Embraer, Cessna and Honda are twins.

Hopefully one day I can add some more info about the PiperJet, but right now they are working on type-conforming test-beds, so maybe near future. I personally have only flown an SR22 twice, nice plane, but the way it's marketed and who it attracts are what scare me. Also, FL250 ceiling.....that sucks for a jet, might as well get in the Meridian/TBM and still go higher.

All of them have had issues making their projected delivery date. I don't know what's going on at Honda, but they've got a tight lid on things. Not sure how that plane will appeal to the market regardless of performance because of how it looks. Either you like it, or hate it.

No, I personally wouldn't buy the SF50...not with all the other options that exist on the market. This plane, if it ever makes it to market, will be hugely popular with current Cirrus owners who will happily pony up an extra $1M for another 80kts and pressurization...and a chute. :rolleyes:

Having been inside the Cirrus Jet cabin mockup at NBAA it is surprisingly roomy (imagine a SR22, slightly wider and much longer), and will have similar flying characteristics to the SR22...but its 'estimated' performance is so anemic for a jet (FL250, 300KTAS max cruise, 800nm range with 800lb payload) that I doubt it'll take many sales away from the likes of the Phenom 100, Mustang or TBM850. I do suspect it would dent Meridian sales a bit.

Yesterday was the first time I stepped foot in a TBM (was a 700C2) and it was a very impressive airplane...being a very mature airframe I'd choose it personally every day and twice on Sunday before the SF50.

You should see the kind of legal maneuvering that has gone on when "The Jet" deposit holders have tried to get their deposit refunded and Cirrus balked...

Airplane manufacturers in this segment are keenly interested in retaining customers and will go to great lengths in order to keep them. Sometimes they will even develop a new airframe if it does the job. It is a wise and proven strategy to spend lots of money to retain customers and Cirrus has a strong customer base with its carbon fiber airplanes- and this jet almost certainly will go into production. The question in my mind is, would anyone besides a former SR22 owner want one, and I doubt it. Commercial operators are not going to be interested because of the low performance numbers. In addition, Diamond is going strong developing a competitor model, and there is always the possibility that Eclipse Aerospace (formerly Eclipse Aviation) is likely to make one as well in a few years. I think this jet will not sell well. As for the quality, it probably be as good as the other Cirrus models. The hope is that by extending the product line, a larger and more profitable model may ensue in the form of a twin jet. This is the best reason for doing it in my opinion. It requires a lot of luck and long range planning.

Cirrus has sold well over 3000 Cirri in a little over a decade of operation...so I think if it ever makes it to production (Cirrus Design ain't exactly flush with cash these days) the SF50 will sell pretty well; 50-80 units per year, almost exclusively to owner-pilots.

I highly doubt Cirrus would ever move up to twinjets...its WAY too far out of their core competency and WAY too competitive - plus there's no chute big enough!

If was able I'd be buying one of these instead of one of those anemic VLJs. Epic cabin-class turbine and VLJ aircraft Look at the range, speed, and payload. Yeah, you can't go up to FL410, but how often do you need to? The ONLY down side IMO is the obvious fact that it is SE. Been over 10 yrs since I've flown a SE and it would take some getting used to the idea. I've had lots of friends who've lost a turbine, but had another to spare. I guess the redeeming quality in that situation would be it's glide range that I would suspect is pretty good from FL250. At least if you were up there!

Epic Dynasty isn't any closer to being certified than the SF50 - in fact its probably much further from being a reality and the Elite even more a remote possibility.

There are some Epic LTs out there flying around (they're homebuilt experimentals), however...

Epic=Epic Failure. Couldn't bring it to market, hell they couldn't stay above water with what they had in the EXP market. Seems to be a good airplane, but they really didn't plan on the costs and process involved.

BoilerUp, glad you finally got in a TBM, you guys need to buy our C2 or B model:D