DULUTH, Minn., Nov. 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Cirrus Aircraft announced today the successful first flight of their second certification flight test aircraft, 'C-One' (C1), in their Vision SF50 personal jet program. This achievement marks the most recent significant milestone for the program as C1 joins C0 in FAA certification activities and continues to accelerate the Vision SF50 towards entry into service.

C1's first flight took place on Tuesday afternoon, 25 November at approximately 3:30 PM CST from Duluth International Airport. Upon completion of the forty-five minute flight, Experimental Flight Test Pilot Terry LeSage reported, "All systems operated as expected and C1 handled quite nicely, just as we predicted. This latest 'first flight' is a validation of our dedication and commitment to the design goals of this game changing airplane."

"Thanksgiving is a very appropriate week for the first flight of C1 to occur," said Dale Klapmeier, CEO and Co-founder, Cirrus Aircraft. "We can all be thankful for the continued hard work and dedication of the entire Cirrus team and our partners as we continue to change the face of personal aviation. Together we have achieved another major milestone and we can look forward with excitement to our goal of elevating the personal flying experience with this clean-sheet design."

Cirrus Aircraft currently plans to have three aircraft dedicated to certification flight-testing in the Vision SF50 personal jet program. C1 is the second aircraft to join the program and will be used for an array of certification efforts including Flight Into Known Icing (FIKI) testing. C0, the first certification flight test aircraft, joined the program on 24 March 2014 and has accumulated nearly 220 flight hours over 150 flights. This aircraft has primarily been used for aerodynamic performance and handling testing and will continue to expand its flight test regime as the program progresses. The third and final flight test aircraft, 'C-Two' (C2), will be utilized for reliability testing, optional equipment testing and is expected to join the program in the near future.

The Vision SF50 is a revolutionary personal jet designed to fill the significant gap between high performance piston singles and light jets. Simple to fly and easy to own and operate, the Vision is designed to be a straightforward transition for pilots of high-performance aircraft, such as the Cirrus SR22T. It features a high-end cruise speed of 300 KTAS, advanced avionics, the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS™) and an all-carbon fiber structure. With a current list price of $1.96 million and seating up to five adults and two smaller passengers in an expansive cabin, Vision Jet sets a new standard in luxury and flexibility for pilots and passengers. First customer deliveries of the aircraft are currently planned for the fourth quarter of 2015.

To learn more about the Vision SF50 jet, visit cirrusaircraft.com/vision.

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 six million flight hours with 99 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.

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SOURCE Cirrus Aircraft

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