SF50 pilots are still going to need to go through a training program and pass a type rating ride. All turbojet type rating rides are to ATP standards.

The ME rating is the easiest of any rating. There have been folks who have gotten their ME rating as part of their Mustang training program.

They are also going to have to do annual 61.58 training.

The SF50 is not going to be a shortcut for a busy type A to fly a jet. It will have the same requirements as other turbojets.

True that they'll need type rating and held to high standards, but they'll need ME IR for anything else in the jet world. All of a sudden a SF50 is looking a lot easier to get into for the busy type A guy with jet fever who doesn't like to be judged.

I don't get why you think they are being judged with the ME IR rating and not with the SF50 type rating.

You can get a ME rating to private standards easily. The SF50 type rating will be a instrument check ride to ATP standards.

You can get a ME rating in 2 to 3 days of casual flying. I am sure the SF50 type rating will take a week of more or intense training.

Why do you think the SF50 type rating will be easier then the ME rating to private standards?

Agreed again Alan, not saying it is, I'm just saying it's perception in this particular buyers mind. Once they're buying the SF50 they will follow through with that type rating of course (they have no choice), but there's a different barrier towards the ME IR. I don't know why, but I can't believe I'm the only one who's noticed. Go in to any flight school and you'll see how rare ME training actually is even amongst people who can easily afford it. Most of the schools don't even offer it or have a twin. Unless they're trying to be professional pilots, get a COM or ATP, there simply aren't that many ME IR PPL's around.

So if you're in the marketing department of Cirrus, you do best to market to SE IR pilots, because there's probably 10 times more of them. That's where the meat is. As TBM, Piper and Pilatus has found out.

But yet, somehow they have time to get a type rating.

I got an ME rating in 2 days. An SF50 type rating will take 2 weeks, particularly for an SR22 pilot.

I think you have confused a charter customer with a jet pilot.

Mike C.

Those are exactly the customers who will buy the SF50. Exactly. The charter customer who suddenly wants to fly himself for business and leisure.

They're not ex United ATP's or seasoned jet pilots. Professional pilots don't have that kind of money. These buyers are self made and will be relatively new to flying. They got seduced by their buddy's Meridian and TBM's and thought "I could do that too, but in a jet". They were never in the market for a smelly Navajo or Baron. It's not on their radar with twins.

Excellent, some independent data.

So far, longest flight 864 nm, 3:19 aloft.

Now we can spot check the true airspeed as well.

Mike C.

If what you say is true, that parachute is going to get a workout.

Well, if they can pass the type course.

If you really want an SF50, just wait, there will be some for sale shortly after deliveries start.

Mike C.

Be interesting to hear from the forum members who they think are the customers for the SF50?

Totally different issue.

Flight schools find having a ME aircraft for training unprofitable. The engines get abused by the air shutdowns and restarts. They can't rent it to low time pilots. Low demand and unprofitable aircraft utilization give the flight schools no reason to offer it.

ME rating used to be a vanity rating for aspiring pilots hoping they would move up to a ME someday. And there was a time when pilots could rent ME aircraft and that is no longer practical. Now with TBMs and Pilati pilots can aspire to there is no reason for a ME unless you need it.

Right, they built exactly what they set out to build. What this means is that their sales and marketing guys decided that there is a good market for such a thing.

You obviously think otherwise. Only time will tell who is right. BUT - generally speaking, there is a reason why engineers suck at sales and marketing.

I think we have covered that for 154 pages of messages in this thread - http://www.beechtalk.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=100102

One of the main reasons the PC12 and TBM have been so successful is that people are too lazy to get an ME rating. It's as simple as that.

Probably an SR22 pilot that wants to burn jet fuel.
After flying it for a year he is going to say, thats sucks flying a slow jet at FL250 and I cannot even reuse it after pulling the chute.

He then turns around and buy's a new TBM 900.

Probably. And what a great plane it is! But they won't go to an MU-2, Commander or King Air, that's for sure.