I love my Bonanza, but I think Beechcraft could care less about selling me a new Bonanza. And I’m a pilot that owns their product. That’s supposed to be your marketing gold. Cirrus did something beyond what others were doing. They listened to people in and out of aviation about what they find important. While I prefer my plane, my wife would “feel” better if we had a chute. Why? Because their marketing was effective. AC, fixed gear, etc were what pilot and future pilots wanted.

Meanwhile, I could buy one of the 12 new 36s made in a year if I want to give up my useful load. Talk about lack of innovation. My 1977 looks pretty close. For the money I have better options. Cirrus has leasing rates right on the site. Run that through your business and you just hit the easy button. Not for me right now, but at least they have a marketing plan. And arguably its working better than any other GA piston company.

They did something that many said couldn’t be done, and they are bringing in new pilots. That’s pretty cool. A trainer would do even more to build that brand.

Yep. While my wife likes the chute, she loves not having the yoke in front of her. She likes the single yoke in the Baron too, for the same reason. While plenty of people scoff at the two doors, it really is nice for loading four people into the plane; and when the stupid pilot forgets something, like the nose wheel chocks.

Seems that all the planes gain weight over the years/revisions. Cirrus addressed it by making changes to lighten the plane to return the useful load. And finally bumping up the useful load, which other manufacturers have done over the years as well; Cessna did quite a bit of that with their 210 and 310 planes.

Too bad other manufacturers are not doing the same. I think the near monopoly that Cirrus has right now is why they can get so much for their new planes.

And so, only 1 year down the road, the SR18 is dead, replaced by SR20 TRAC.
https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/cir ... ac-trainer

Makes sense. Most large flight schools are not a single student and trainer. It often is two or three students and a trainer.

Tim

$410,000 for a stripped down SR20? Over a half mil optioned out.



I'll take door #2, thanks.

But... you get a fake gear lever!

It is probably an extra cost option, though.

I wonder what the plane does when you land "gear up". A speaker makes prop strikes and scraping noises when you touch down? You want the student to get the full experience.

Mike C.

But... you get a fake gear lever!

It is probably an extra cost option, though.

I wonder what the plane does when you land "gear up". A speaker makes prop strikes and scraping noises when you touch down? You want the student to get the full experience.

Mike C.

But... you get a fake gear lever!

It is probably an extra cost option, though.

I wonder what the plane does when you land "gear up". A speaker makes prop strikes and scraping noises when you touch down? You want the student to get the full experience.

Mike C.

Labeling others as haters is a typical illogical reaction by believers.

Still waiting for that list of "innovations" by Cirrus.

Mike C.

Without cirrus GA would have died in the last 15 years.

Go to osh and look at the booths.

Cirrus makes products pilots and non pilots want to buy. They continually make their products better. I hope they continue to have success - it helps the entire ecosystem.

That's a total myth created by the Cirrus faithful channeling the Cirrus marketing machine.

The amount of GA flying goes up or down over time by FAR more than the total Cirrus fleet contribution. Therefore, the Cirrus contribution is not the dominant factor in GA survival. The prime factor is the overall health of the economy.

The Cirrus fleet represents 3% of all active GA aircraft. GA would survive the removal of those 3%. Indeed, GA did survive the dark ages of personal flying, 1985 to late 1990s, before Cirrus SR series existed.

Mike C.

None of which they invented or brought to market first.

Cirrus claims they are innovators, but they are really integrators of long established technology with good marketing to make you think they innovated.


GA is better with more manufacturers and options.

If GA was ONLY Cirrus, then GA is definitely WORSE.

Mike C.

I really hope the SR-18 doesn’t have a stabilator. Looks like it might from the placement in the photos.

Vertical fin design just looks too small and setup for bad spin recovery to me. I predict strakes and a dorsal fin will grow.

GA is better with more manufacturers and options.

If GA was ONLY Cirrus, then GA is definitely WORSE.

Realistically, didn't Cirrus force Cessna, Piper, Beech and everyone else to got to glass?