Cirrus Unveils G3 Vision Jet Upgrade

Cirrus Aircraft has taken the wraps off its new generation of the Vision Jet, the G3 Vision Jet, with advancements to reduce pilot workload, a revamped cabin with expanded seating, new exterior paint choices and many other upgrades.

Customer deliveries of the $3.68 million single-engine G3 Vision Jet will begin shortly, company officials say.

“The G3 Vision Jet is a testament to our relentless innovation and continued investment in personal aviation and our owners who want to travel efficiently with peace of mind,” Cirrus CEO Zean Nielsen said. “The G3 Vision Jet interior was reengineered for excellence and comfort.”

On the ramp at Signature Aviation’s FBO on a recent sunny Sunday at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower Airport (ICT), Matthew Bergwall, executive director of Cirrus’ Vision Jet product line, gave BCA a tour of the sleek aircraft and a flight.

Cirrus’ third-generation Vision Jet includes at least 30 refinements and enhancements, Bergwall told BCA. On the exterior, he pointed out the aircraft’s landing lights, which are 2.7 times brighter than on the previous version and offer more night visibility. He also demonstrated the new Cirrus halo lights that distinguish the jet on the ramp.

A subtle change is in the aircraft’s boots, which have switched from silver to black for a sleek appearance. The black is better at revealing any ice buildup and hiding scuffs, Bergwall said. Cirrus also gives customers a new choice of exterior paint schemes.

Inside the aircraft, Bergwall pointed to the jet’s safety features, such as a button to push to engage Garmin’s Safe Return Emergency Autoland, which automatically lands the aircraft should a pilot become incapacitated, and the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System, or CAPS.

Inside the cockpit, he noted that the G3 version includes Garmin’s Perspective Touch+ flight deck to reduce workload while increasing safety and productivity.

“What’s cool is we have this airline technology, and we brought it all the way down to an owner-flown airplane,” Bergwall said.

Preparing to fly west from Wichita to Garden City, Kansas, Bergwall went through an alerts-linked electronic checklist that provided quick access to the relevant lists, a feature he called “a big deal for our owners.”

Automatic database updates download the latest flight data automatically onto the aircraft with the Cirrus IQ Pro Advanced system to streamline the preflight process.

Taxiway Routing and 3D SafeTaxi provide clear surface maps and directions when navigating at unfamiliar airports, improving situational awareness and, at ICT, providing the position of hangars, other buildings, runways and a “nice picture of everything that’s out there,” Bergwall said.

The ATC Datalink allows pilots to communicate by text with air traffic controllers to receive route updates, altitude assignments or other information. Controllers at about 60-80 of the nation’s busiest airports today have the ability to provide clearances through messages that appear on the display, Bergwall said. (Wichita’s largest airport is not yet among them.) That ability provides a layer of safety because there is no risk of miscommunication, he said.

Inside the cabin, the G3 now seats six adults with the inclusion of a third-row bench seat, plus two extra inches of legroom.

The redesigned seating includes new materials and bolstered seats for shock absorption with extra support to the headrest, armrests and knee area for comfort. Further changes include new tray tables, personal device mounts and other enhancements.

“All of these things are very purposeful for a good flight experience for anybody sitting in the back,” Bergwall said.

The Cirrus Vision Jet is powered by the Williams International FJ33-5A engine. It has a maximum range of 1,275 nm (1,467 mi.) and a maximum cruise speed of 317 kt (365 mph). More than 700 Vision Jets are in service following the first delivery in December 2016. About 80-90% are owner-flown, Bergwall said. About 70% of buyers have been owners of the Cirrus SR series aircraft.

“The Generation 3 Vision Jet is definitely the best Vision Jet that’s out there,” Bergwall said. “We have a lot of refinements that have been put into this airplane . . . and we’ll start delivering soon. It’s certified and ready to go.”

At the time of publication, deliveries were expected to begin in late February, Cirrus officials said.