Cirrus delivers first Vision Jet

A tweet accompanied a dazzling photo of the red-and-white aircraft with multiple spotlights drawing attention to the V-tailed single-engine jet. Two pilots occupied the aircraft's front seats. The tweet stated simply, “Today, the Vision Jet belongs to You. Congratulations to customer #1 as we celebrate this monumental first delivery! #CirrusProud #VisionJet.”

The first customer was Joe Whisenhunt, a Conway, Arkansas, real-estate developer who has owned an array of Cirrus aircraft. According to pictures published in the Duluth News Tribune newspaper, Whisenhunt and his family were on hand for the delivery.

Additional social media posts indicated 800 employees, family members, and dignitaries attended the ceremony. The seven-seat SF50 was rolled out through plumes of smoke and an array of lights befitting a rock concert. In photographs posted online from the event, guests could be seen hugging, kissing, and snapping souvenir photos.

The aircraft achieved its certification Oct. 30, when co-founder and CEO Dale Klapmeier praised his company’s vision for making the FJ33-5A turbofan-powered personal jet a reality.

The carbon-fiber-constructed aircraft contains the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System and cruises at 300 knots with a range of approximately 1,000 nautical miles. Side yoke controls, Garmin’s Cirrus Perspective Touch avionics, synthetic vision, and single-lever full authority digital engine control systems (FADEC) complete the package.

Cirrus Aircraft posted on Instagram that they “could not be more thrilled or proud to have reached this momentous day” and thanked Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Rep. Rick Nolan (D-Minn.), Duluth Mayor Emily Larson, and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association for their support.

“It has been an incredible end to 2016,” the company continued on social media. “Here’s looking forward to 2017, and to the bright future of the Cirrus Vision Jet!”