Cirrus just announced Cirrus Next, its trade-in/trade-up program. It's another example of how Cirrus is making aircraft ownership easier, especially for folks who are new to aviation, and those customers account for some 30% of Cirrus sales these days.

Of course, the basic concept isn't new. Back when Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft, and others had dealer networks, pilot centers, clubs, etc., they held your hand as a newbie and encouraged upgrades to more capable models in their product lines.

I also have no idea of how the trade-in values Cirrus offers compare to those on the open market. But even if those using the program don't get top dollar, it seems to remove friction from the sales/acquisition process, especially for people who haven't been buying and selling airplanes for years. And it's an example of one way to encourage and support growth in GA.

Unless it leads directly to jet sales, Textron don't care.

I think it's a really smart business idea for them. It reduces competition from the used market and provides a consumer experience like people are used to with cars. It all makes a lot of sense.

“I also have no idea of how the trade-in values Cirrus offers compare to those on the open market. But even if those using the program don't get top dollar, it seems to remove friction from the sales/acquisition process, especially for people who haven't been buying and selling airplanes for years.”

Sometimes, many times, top dollar really isn’t top dollar. It’s only perceived as top dollar. Apply all of the ancillary costs associated with selling an airplane on your own and you will quickly see how much you are really losing and what it is really costing you.

I recently brokered a Cessna 180 purchase for a friend of mine. It is amazing how bad some people (many people to be honest) are at selling airplanes. We probably inquired on around 20 airplanes and maybe half had the logs scanned in. Of those, only half had the complete logs scanned in. A few seriously suggested that it would be easier if I just took 4 days and flew halfway across the country to read them in person. About a third took 3-4 days to respond, if they responded at all. 180's tend to live colorful lives, and if you own one that's par for the course. Yet most sellers had no clue (or feigned no clue) if the plane had any damage history. Many had terrible pictures.

If you are good at it, your price is reasonable, and the model is in demand....hold on to your hat! You will get deluged with inquiries. At least 75% of them will be tire kickers, wannabees, or people who are bored and just want to talk about airplanes. They will want you to finance it, or hold it for 2 weeks without deposit, or fly it half way across the country for a pre-buy.

The point is that selling an airplane is a lot of work. You may leave a few dollars on the table if you trade it in, but time is money and if you are in the Cirrus tax bracket you likely make more money with that time at your day job.

For those who live in a state with tax on aircraft, would trading it in be like trading in a car where you're only taxed on the difference? That can help make up the gap between getting "top dollar" on the open market.

Chip-

In most cases yes, and that's a big deal when we're talking Cirrus money.
In TN sales tax is ~10%, and there are provisions for trade in just like for cars, so it can make a lot of sense to trade when able.

in Michigan your taxed on the full sale price regardless of any trade in. It sucks.

An authorized Cirrus service center opened at Camarillo airport next to my IA’s hangar. The new Cirrus aircraft sure look nice.

But they don’t make one that does what my A36 Bonanza does so we have no interest in one.

The A36 remains the finest piston engined non-pressurized 6 seater.

The Piper Martrix has to be in that mix, Bigger, faster, longer range, higher altitude, better runway performance, especially if high, hot, and heavy, FIKI. I had one for a while. It liked to fly high so well, that I turned it in for a Mirage, tired of the nose hoses. Was one of the most reliable planes that I have owned. 200 KTAS all day long in the teens. They only made 214 of them, so not easy to find.

Hi Charles,

Really?

My TAT TN 550 powered A36 will do 190 KTAS at 12,000; 200 KTAS at 17,000’ MSL; either on 15.5 GPH LOP at WOT and 2300 RPM.

If I want to push more fuel through it she will go faster.

I’ve got a 2,368 lb empty weight, 4,000 lb GW so the useful load is 1,632 pounds.

I’m based at a 2,800’ strip and routinely operate out of there with 3 adults, 2 grandkids, car seats, luggage and full fuel (80 gallons).

You’re suggesting the Matrix has greater useful load than that? And faster speeds?

And of course I get phenomenal fuel economy at high speed because the TAT TN loves running LOP.

???

I have nothing against the Malibu and if one would fit in my hangar I’d get one just for the pressurization.

The Matrix won’t fit in my hangar and I doubt it will increase performance over what I have.

The cynic in me says this is maybe because their sales are slowing (i dont know if they are) and also trying to prop up the price in the used market (again to drive trade ins for new sales).

My father bought a new SR-22 in 2005 and although im not 100% sure 385K sticks in my mind as what he paid for it. So thats 640ish in todays dollars. These days they start at what about 1.1 and go up very quickly from there?

airplane prices have gotten out of hand is, I am sure, news to you all

Fast enough for you 219 KTAS? That is max cruise, normal cruise at that altitude would be about 205. No radar pod, adds 3-4 KTAS over the Malibu/Mirage;-) 15,000 normal cruise 190's. But that is a stock Matrix. Sounds like your Baron is STC'd for a turbo?

Seems like another smart step down the road of making luxury aircraft ownership as easy as luxury car ownership, and it does make sense for those customers coming in from outside aviation. I have a friend who sold his startup and he wants to learn to fly just so he can get an SF50. I don't think he's even aware of what other aircraft exist. He and his wife want an SF50.

Next up: leases!

Actually, you know what else they should do? Build (Cirrus-owner) hangars in major metro areas.

After about fifteen years of living at an airport and talking to owners, fragile is what I think of when discussing the PA46. Glad y'all like them, I'll happily go slower in a Beech product.