The 55-foot diameter parachute is deployed by a solid fuelled rocket from its compartment in the rear fuselage behind the passenger cabin and is activated via a T pull handle in the ceiling above the front seat occupants. However, numerous options are still available.Īll Cirrus come with the unique Cirrus Airframe Parachute System, (CAPS), an emergency parachute for the whole aircraft. The difference only being the level of fitted standard equipment. The SR22 is marketed in two models, the GS and GTS. The aircraft tested here, VH-SLS, is a SR22 Turbo GTS Generation 3. The large area blades are also handy as a speed brake when at idle in slowing down the slippery Cirrus. With the titanium leading edge, the blades are tough wearing, even on some aircraft that continually operate on grass and rough strips. The leading edges of the prop blades are made from titanium with the remainder of the scimitar shape made from composite. The Turbo SR22 is fitted with a twin turbo Tornado Alley normalised turbo system with intercooler that maintains sea level performance up to the maximum altitude of 25,000ft.Ībsorbing that power is a Hartzell three-bladed composite constant speed propeller. Where the SR20 is fitted with a normally aspirated 200hp Continental IO-360-ES, the SR22 is fitted with the IO-550-N, rated at 310hp. Both aircraft basically share the same airframe only the engine fitted differentiates the two models and consequently the performance. The SR22 design was developed along with the successful SR20. Through both of these attributes, less horsepower was required, leading to improved efficiency and performance. These new designs not only reduced the empty weight of aircraft but significantly reduced aerodynamic drag. Kit aircraft in the 90s seemed to be the only ones showing new thinking in the way of aerodynamics and structures, favouring the modern, flowing shapes that composite design and construction can deliver over the established past of riveted aluminum structures with numerous angled shapes. The Cirrus was first conceived as a kit by builders and brothers Alan and Dale Klapmeier. Designed out of an era when there weren’t many new aircraft coming from the stables of the accepted major manufacturers like Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft and Mooney,
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