HAHAH! As a matter of fact, I was at 17,500'! But, I was wearing O2 this time.
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N160YR

It was a Cirrus but I don't remember if he said "experimental".

Kent, that was my bosses Lancair 4P Propjet being positioned in place of his G58.

"JetProp" is the trade name for the Malibu turboprop conversion STC. Perhaps the same company is doing something with a Cirrus? Seems like the pilot of a Cirrus with a turboprop from elsewhere would have just said it was a "turboprop" or "turbine powered" in the scenario you described.

Next time, ask ATC if they would query the pilot WRT the origin of his airplane, they'll probably let the pilot reply directly and they're likely curious themselves.

Cirrus ST50? Sounds like this was a one off prototype but who knows, maybe there is another one flying.

http://www.eaa1000.av.org/fltrpts/st50/st50.htm

I forgot the Cirrus VK30 did have a turboprop option.

"JetProp" is the trade name for the Malibu turboprop conversion STC. Perhaps the same company is doing something with a Cirrus? Seems like the pilot of a Cirrus with a turboprop from elsewhere would have just said it was a "turboprop" or "turbine powered" in the scenario you described.

Next time, ask ATC if they would query the pilot WRT the origin of his airplane, they'll probably let the pilot reply directly and they're likely curious themselves.

Saw this at Double Eagle in Albuqerque today. It's a Cirrus prototype but not the same as the one mentioned earlier in the thread. Anyone know more about this plane?

Yes, I know this is a 5 yr old thread but it seemed the right place to post.

Looks like the VK-30, a Cirrus from way back.

That's exactly what it is, the kits were made in a hangar at the Wisconsin Dells Airport back in the late 80's.

Definitely VK-30 with likely a piston engine. Typically used 550 Continentals with or without turbos. The factory built at least one prototype with an Allison turboprop I believe. Some customers tried V-8 engines too if my memory serves.

The ST-50 was a bigger version developed and built under contract for an Israeli company with a PT-6 variant. It did not make it to market.

This one's a kerosene burner. I was inside my hangar and heard it taxing towards me. Had to move my car for it. Seemed very exotic - SETP pusher.

Oh, the VK-30. The only plane that has killed more occupants than there were ever planes of the type on the registry. And it probably wasn't the planes fault, some of the crashes were just people doing dumb ####.

This one's a kerosene burner. I was inside my hangar and heard it taxing towards me. Had to move my car for it. Seemed very exotic - SETP pusher.

Scott and I both worked at Cirrus during their period from their experimental days to their Part 23 days. The VK30 pictured above was the first aircraft which Cirrus developed which was a purely experimental aircraft. Very few remember that this is how Cirrus got their start in Baraboo, WI. As far as I recall, only one VK30 was fitted with a turbine engine, which was the prototype a/c to the ST50 which Scott mentioned. Within Cirrus it was known at Proto #4, or the 4th cirrus internal prototype aircraft.

That's not to say that another kit may have put a turbine in the VK30 sometime later. Some 60 VK30 kits were shipped and less than 1/2 actually flew. I have no idea how many are left but I would guess less than 10. If there's a turbine 'Cirrus' flying I would bet it's a turbine powered VK30 over a turbine SR22 but that's just my 0.02.

Actually a LOT of it has to do with the airplane. It was a very efficient but also a horribly designed a/c. I can tell you many MANY reasons why not to ever fly that airplane and this is coming from the guy who still thinks that it is one of the sexiest airplanes I ever saw.