Cirrus Design has stretched the fuselage of its SJ-50 Vision to 9.14m (30ft) to enhance low-speed performance of the single-engine personal jet. "The nose is slightly sharper and a little bit longer," says Cirrus chief executive Alan Klapmeier. The company did not provide details on the length of the aircraft before the changes.
"We've smoothed the wing-to-fuselage joint, changed the cross-section slightly and improved the wing root fairing." Ventral fins on the second prototype have been enlarged and the V-tail has been moved further aft. The SJ-50 has logged more than 100 flight hours since July. "The target stall speed of 61kt [113km/h]," Klapmeier says, "will probably end up being 65kt because we have increased the gross weight." That weight increase will provide more utility with 860kg [1,900lb] of fuel and 180kg of payload". Cirrus said the changes were based on its flight testing experience as well as wind tunnel trials.
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© Jeff Decker |
The right cabin door has been removed to save weight and eliminate nuisance faults. "This is engineers strapping me to the table and forcing me to give up the right-side door," Klampmeier explains. "But they couldn't get me to give up on grass runways."
Klapmeier says the first production model will fly in March 2010. The Williams International FJ33-4A-19-powered jet is a funding priority for the Duluth, Minnesota-based company, which has cut production and slipped from a four- to a three-day working week due to a fall in demand for its SR20 and SR22 piston singles. The company has also slowed development of the SRS light sport aircraft due to softening in the LSA market.
Source: Flight International
