Cirrus Aircraft Promotes Women in Aviation, Equips 'Racing Aces' Pilots with SR22 Airplane for 2014 Air Race Classic

DULUTH, Minn., May 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Doing its part to raise awareness for women in general aviation, Cirrus Aircraft will equip 'Racing Aces' team pilot Dianna Stanger, co-pilot Joyce Wilson and teammate Erin Cude with a Cirrus SR22 airplane to take on the 38^th annual Air Race Classic in June. A competitive four-day flight across the United States, the Air Race Classic promotes current and future women pilots while increasing public awareness of general aviation. Cirrus will also help select the 2014 winner of the Racing Aces Scholarship, an annual $5,000 scholarship given to a young woman interested in aviation. Stanger was named the 2012 and 2014 'Most Dedicated Female Pilot Worldwide' by Women of Aviation Worldwide, and won the Air Race Classic with her co-pilot in 2012.

"Only seven percent of all pilots are women, and we're hoping that initiatives like the Air Race Classic – which encourages women pilots from across the world to come out and hone their flying skills in a spirit of camaraderie – will help the general aviation industry nudge that number upward," said Dale Klapmeier, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Office of Cirrus Aircraft. "We're excited to play a small role in this endeavor by exposing women pilots to our aircraft that are technologically advanced yet easy and safe to fly, and of course also by promoting a scholarship that helps women take the steps needed to pursue their dream of flying on their own."

A Cirrus Aircraft enthusiast and the owner of a custom Cirrus SR22T Xi, Stanger will compete a Cirrus SR22 during the race which will be furnished by Cirrus Aircraft. As the best-selling airplane in its class for the past decade, the SR22 embodies advanced technological innovation, exhilarating performance and unprecedented style. Features include a continental IO-550-N 310 HP engine with a max cruise speed of 183 KTAS, advanced avionics and the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System™ (CAPS).

The nonprofit Air Race Classic will be held June 16-19 and culminate in a 2,307 nautical mile journey from Concord, Calif. to New Cumberland, Pa. Contestants are given four days, flying in daylight hours, to reach their destination, with the winner determined by having an actual ground speed as far over an assigned handicap speed as possible, as opposed to simply reaching the destination first.

Racing Aces Scholarship

Stanger started the Racing Aces Scholarship in 2012 on behalf of her team to support women seeking a career in aviation. Each applicant will be reviewed for eligibility by an independent panel. A second panel of judges consisting of The Racing Aces and Cirrus Aircraft members will review qualified applicants. The 2014 scholarship winner will be announced in November 2014 and honored at a celebratory event.

To learn more about the SR22 and other Cirrus Aircraft models, visit www.cirrusaircraft.com.

ABOUT CIRRUS AIRCRAFT
Cirrus Aircraft is a recognized leader in general aviation. Its all-composite line of personal aircraft - the SR20, SR22 and the turbocharged SR22T - incorporate innovative and advanced performance, electronic and safety technologies, including Cirrus Perspective™ by Garmin® avionics and the unique Cirrus Airframe Parachute System™ (CAPS). To date, total time on the worldwide Cirrus Aircraft SR-series fleet surpassed five million flight hours with 87 lives saved as a direct result of CAPS being a standard safety feature on all Cirrus aircraft. The Cirrus Vision SF50 jet, with over 550 production positions reserved, will provide a new personal and regional business transportation solution: the personal jet. All Cirrus aircraft are made in the U.S. with a direct sales force in North America and authorized sales centers covering export markets in 60 countries around the world. Cirrus Aircraft is wholly owned by China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co., Ltd. (CAIGA). For additional information on Cirrus and its products please visit cirrusaircraft.com.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140513/87074

SOURCE Cirrus Aircraft