Having frequently dealt with cold weather starts with jets in the mountains, I especially appreciate this feature. During the cockpit preflight, the operation of the master switches initiates a four-minute activation of the battery heaters, lowering the low temperature battery-only start limitation from 0C to – 40C. The heaters virtually eliminate low temperature start limitations. Up front, the G2 incorporates Mid Continent Instruments and Avionics’ True Blue lithium-ion emergency and main batteries, which offer less weight, integrated heaters and extended service intervals. This option could be great for a moving map or entertainment for the passengers. The cabin features an optional overhead 22-inch Inflight Entertainment (IFE) display with an HDMI video port on the cabin sidewall. In each seating position, both crew and passengers have convenient storage nooks with intercom, music and USB power ports. The G2 has a center console option with tables that fits between the middle row seats. The seats also now come with bottom cushion storage areas and kangaroo pouches capable of storing small items such as phones. It is obvious Cirrus kept families in mind with their inclusion of latch support for child seats. Though the two 90-pound rated child seats are an option, they are almost always selected by buyers. With the rear seats included, the jet offers a total capacity of five adults and two children. Remove the aft child seats and that number increases to 431 pounds. With all seats installed, our airplane had a full fuel (296 gallons/2,001 pounds) payload of 394 pounds. Simply note the presence or absence for each one when doing weight and balance calculations. Any cabin seat can be easily moved or removed without an A&P signing off the change. Cirrus has made it easy to move the seats with seat adjustment levers both fore and aft. The cabin door opens to a wide 2 feet by 4 feet opening with lighted steps. The pilot steps up on the left wing to remove or install the engine inlet cover. The engine preflight is simple with ease of access to the engine oil level sight glass. The extended baggage area is now standard with the G2 providing a total of 27.4 cubic feet of storage with a capacity of 300 pounds. If conducting a preflight at night, underwing LED lighting adds a nice ambiance. Cirrus removed the small vortex generators (Boundary Layer Enhancers) and aileron fence from the wing and lengthened the T-strip on the aft edge of the aileron. Overall, the differences during the exterior portion of the preflight are minimal. But despite its size, the jet was designed to fit in hangars that typically fit the Cirrus SR series – an intentional decision since existing Cirrus owners constitute the majority of the Vision Jet position holders and owners. The Vision Jet exhibits a tall presence and large cabin for its weight class, with a cabin width of 61 inches at its widest section, then tapering to 44 inches aft. To start things off, we spent two hours giving the Vision Jet a thorough pre-flight as well as discussing the core differences between the G1 and G2 versions. Matt and I met in Knoxville at the McGhee Tyson Airport (KTYS), which is where Cirrus recently relocated and expanded their customer-facing facilities with an aircraft delivery center, service center and Vision Jet training center (a sensible location as it is within a two flight-hour range of over 1,000 SR aircraft owners). We mapped out two days chockfull of the Cirrus experience including a facility tour, training sessions, in-depth discussions and, of course, an extensive flight. Leading up to the trip, I corresponded with Matt Bergwall, director of the Vision Jet product line. With 100 jets now delivered, Cirrus is poised to produce more than 250 in its first five years of production.Īs a follow-up to Dianne White’s review of the first-generation Vision Jet (“The Cirrus Vision Jet,” Twin & Turbine, February 2018), we arranged a visit to Knoxville to experience the upgrades specific to the G2. Cirrus Aircraft achieved each of these in the release of its second-generation Vision Jet known as the “G2.” The latest model comes two years after the first Vision Jet deliveries began in December 2016. When you are the only company to offer a single-engine jet in the general aviation industry, what do you do for an encore? You make it go higher, fly farther, be quieter and instill the latest and greatest technology.
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