It’s really a tale that this is the main reason for Cirrus’ success. The main reason is that it’s best pisron single engine airplane on the market.
But of course pilots – and wives – love the fact that the Cirrus has this safety system.
I just got this via COPA. It’s not a Cirrus, but still impressive. A Pipistrel Ultralight lost both wings inside a thunderstorm and both occunpants escaped unharmed.
But of course pilots – and wives – love the fact that the Cirrus has this safety system.
Pilots – and wives – ho hum….oh why do I bother? Why don’t you cut the sexist crap….
What? I have no idea what you’re talking about. But maybe that is because my wife can fly airplanes :-)
You have to define success.
Pipistrel just sold 194 Virus SW to the Indian Air Force to be used as some kind of leisure aircraft or something, with an option of 100 more. 50 years ago it would have been Piper or Cessna.
Robinson makes more helicopters for private use than Cirrus makes airplanes for instance.
Things have changed. More Cirruses are sold than C-172s, but it’s more a battle between the last living dinosaurs than a tale of success.
There’s some truth in that! I am not sure myself that we will see this category of aircraft survive. It’s simply too expensive …,
A Robinson helicopter would not be the alternative for me. I have flown them a couple of hours, but they scare me and I don’t trust them. I also don’t see their value, for travelling they’re too slow, no autopilot … and simply too expensive.
Definition of Cirrus SR22 success: over 5000 sold in 14 years.
Other definition: Most successful airplane of the SEP category
I think there are a number of factors going on here.
Firstly the Cirrus came along at a time when there were very few manufacturers left producing new SEPs and even fewer producing a new SEP that wasnt based on an old design. Moreover, Cirrus embraced the then new technology of glass cockpits, the chute, doors both sides and good performance. For anyone with money wanting a new aircraft there was little choice and the Cirrus was a good choice. I cant recall whether Diamond came along after, I think perhaps they did with the DA40, but perhaps they tried to push the boundaries too far too soon with a diesel engine which was met with some scepticism, and more to the point for a private individual buying a new aircraft a Diamond has never had the ramp and interior appeal of a Cirrus.
I actually think the chute was less of a factor than some would have us believe. More a case of “darling, lets get a new aircraft, and by the way this one has a chute so you will think it is a good idea”, whereas in reality the aircraft had already sold itself to the pilot who was less concerned about the chute having learnt to fly SEPs without one.
That said more often than not the buyer will have more than a few hours and more than a little money under his belt, so is also probably not short on years. There is no doubt as you get older for some reason you become more aware of your mortality and shortcomings which translates into becoming more cautious. I find there are a good many pilots who are far more cautious the way they fly singles as they get older and accumulate more hours. I think they also realise that while the risk of an engine failure is slight, the chances of a good outcome at night, over an undercast, especially over the Alps or other hostile terrain and over the sea is not great.
So I think it is a combination of factors that still make the Cirrus a very attractive package with very little competition. Of course the non certified fleet is competition but inevitably simply because it is non certified it will have its supporters and detractors.
Actually I have many hundreds of hours in the 22 and enjoyed them all. Its a good package and a very pleasant and rewarding aircraft to fly. It is very capable, with few vices. There is little doubt it can get away from you very quickly but not especially quicker than any aircraft of similiar performance. Today I would far rather fly a twin. I still am drawn by the glass screens and a thoroughly modern avionics setup but actually after years of both I finally find myself as happy with the old six pack as long as I have a good GPS avionics and a half sensible autopilot. Without wishing to start the single twin debate everything else aside for those who have actually flown a twin for very many hours, I think for going places its difficult to look at singles in the same light for so many reasons. The exception is for having fun, whether it being aeros, or hopping in and out of grass strips – the sheer joy of stick and rudder, seat of the pants with which a twin (or for that matter most high performance SEPs) cannot compete.
Helicopters fulfil a very different mission profile, and they will always be around.
Pipistrel don’t do anything that is IFR capable so they address only the VFR market, and their uncertified aircraft need a permit to overfly each country (with various concessions, as discussed here often under “homebuilts”) so they will never take over the world.
There are very few certified piston engined IFR tourers (i.e. planes which can just fly anywhere without getting permits) made today, Cirrus and Diamond are the main players. There is also Robin (are they still made – I heard about parts supply issues) and various more specialised types.
Pipistrel don’t do anything that is IFR capable
Not today, that may be true, but …
they will never take over the world
… who knows what they’ll bring tomorrow? Their offer has been going up, ever up, why should they stop at IFR-certification? If “offering IFR-capability” equals “taking over the world”, which may not mean the same thing to most G/A pilot/owners.
… who knows what they’ll bring tomorrow? Their offer has been going up, ever up, why should they stop at IFR-certification?
They dont BUT
- they have carved out a very good niche market for themselves, and know that market well.
It is easy to underestimate whats involved in moving from that market to go head on with the leaders in the IFR certified market with a product that competes on cost, appeal, performance or whatever combination is going to steel a market share. That is a big gamble, requiring a huge amount of finance, and a load of new skills.
So of course they could but history is littered with those who have tried and failed and the market these days can support even less than was once the case.
If I were them I would do everything I could to remain the best at what I currently do.
