Cirrus Aircraft
Cirrus Aircraft had a record year of growth and expansion in 2019, marked by its Vision Jet becoming the best-selling jet in general aviation. Deliveries of the Vision Jet surpassed 80 aircraft in 2019, representing a 29% increase over the prior year, while consistent growth in SR Series aircraft deliveries resulted in a combined total of 465 aircraft shipments in 2019. With 384 aircraft delivered in 2019, the SR Series remained the best-selling high-performance piston aircraft in its segment for 18 consecutive years.
These combined gains in 2019 represent a 5% increase in total deliveries compared to 2018 and made it the fifth year in a row that Cirrus Aircraft has grown annual airplane shipments.
“Our growth at Cirrus Aircraft is propelled each year by our mission to create an aviation experience that is defined by innovation and excellence,” said Zean Nielsen, CEO at Cirrus Aircraft. “Our team strives to advance personal aviation with smarter, more connected aircraft and our annual performance is reflective of how our strategy is resonating with customers from both inside and outside of aviation.”
2019 is the sixth consecutive year that Cirrus Aircraft has delivered more than 300 SR Series aircraft. Additionally, the Vision Jet has now surpassed 170 in service globally.
Expansion of Cirrus Services also fueled enterprise growth, including the opening of a Cirrus Aircraft facility in the Dallas area. Finally, the total number of Cirrus employees grew by more than 10% in 2019 as team members were added in all locations including Duluth, Minnesota; Grand Forks, North Dakota; Knoxville, Tennessee and McKinney, Texas.
Cirrus Aircraft’s first high-performance SR Series airplane – the SR20 – was first delivered in 1999. The SR Series portfolio includes the SR20, SR22 and the turbocharged SR22T. Today, the worldwide fleet of SR Series aircraft has surpassed 7,500 aircraft with over 11 million flight hours in 60 countries around the world.
In early 2019, the company announced the launch of the next generation Vision Jet – G2 – with increased cruise altitude, speed, and range, along with a newly-upgraded Perspective Touch+ by Garmin flight deck. In addition to upgrades, several technologies were added to the G2 Vision Jet, including a category-first Autothrottle and Flight Stream connectivity. Interior amenities include executive seats, noise reduction, and a passenger productivity console. Later in 2019, Cirrus Aircraft announced the upcoming addition of Safe Return – an emergency autoland system that enables passengers to land the Vision jet with the touch of a button.