Interestingly, it is the world's only civilian single engine jet. SF stands for ‘single fan’, having been changed from the previous designation ‘SJ’ (‘single jet). The V for Vision in the airplane’s name comes from its v-tail configuration. The plane’s construction is mostly carbon-fiber, with seamless wings and aluminum control surfaces. Cirrus announced the G2 version (which can carry more payload) back in 2019 and the G2+ (which has an extended range, more payload and better takeoff performance) in 2021. Since then, further variants of the plane have been developed. Mass production to meet the SF50’s near-300 orders began shortly thereafter The plane received its type certification in October 2016 and its first deliveries were made before the year was out. Two subsequent prototypes also made their first successful flight the same year. These were eventually fixed and the aerodynamically-improved prototype made its first successful test flight on March 24 2014. This pushed back the prototype roll out date back until this was sorted.įunding was secured but initial flight tests revealed major aerodynamic flaws that needed to be rectified. However, development ran into funding issues and the SF50 was quite nearly never born.ĭetermined to see their aircraft enter service, Cirrus first attempted to raise finance at the NBAA, before contracting Merill Lynch later the same year to help them create a new company, which would raise finance for the continued development of Cirrus’ personal jet. The whole thing came together in June 2007.Ĭirrus Aircraft rented out a hangar at Duluth International Airport to begin developing a prototype. No mockup or concept design was ever shown to them by the company and deposit holders were mailed small bits of an aircraft drawing as a sort of jigsaw puzzle designed to pique their curiosity and generate considerable news coverage (including by the likes of Flying Magazine, Aviation International News and Aero News Network). Indeed, potential customers had no idea what the plane would even look like. The SF50 was announced in 2006 during the famed Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association meeting in a rather unique way: they announced a new jet and that was it. The Vision Jet is a v-tailed, single-engine, low-wing VLJ (Very Light Jet) made by US manufacturer Cirrus Aircraft.
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