Cirrus SR22

The Cirrus SR22 is a single-engine four- or five-seat composite aircraft built since 2001 by Cirrus Aircraft of Duluth, Minnesota, United States.

It is a development of the Cirrus SR20, with a larger wing, higher fuel capacity, and a more powerful, 310-horsepower (231 kW) engine.

The SR22 series has been the world's best-selling general aviation (GA) airplane every year since 2003. With 7,737 units delivered from 2001–23, and in combination with the SR20, a total of 9,548, it is the most-produced GA aircraft of the 21st century, and is the single most-produced GA aircraft made from composite material, accounting for nearly 50% of the entire piston aircraft market.^[1]^[4]^[2]^[5]

The Cirrus SR22 has a whole-plane emergency recovery parachute system: the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). This has contributed to its market success and has given it the nickname "the plane with the parachute".^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]

Operators[edit]

Civil[edit]

The SR22 is used by flying schools, several air charter and small air taxi carriers, as well as private individuals and companies.

On November 3, 2015, former CEO William S. Simon deployed CAPS in his SR22T over Fayetteville, Arkansas, near the University of Arkansas when the plane experienced engine trouble. A vehicle struck the aircraft on a busy road after it had touched down. All parties involved suffered only minor injuries.^[80]

Walmart

On May 12, 2021, a and an SR22 collided on approach to Centennial Airport near Denver, Colorado. The Cirrus pilot deployed CAPS and made a safe off-airport parachute-assisted landing; the Metroliner pilot landed safely at Centennial with damage to the cabin and empennage. No injuries were reported. The accident was attributed to the SR22 pilot overshooting his turn, while the failure of air traffic control to alert the Metroliner pilot of the approaching SR22 was a contributing factor.^[81]

Swearingen Metroliner SA226-TC

SR22s have been involved in numerous accidents and incidents, with some of the most notable being:

Crew: one

Capacity: four passengers

Length: 26 ft 0 in (7.92 m)

Wingspan: 38 ft 4 in (11.68 m)

Height: 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m)

: Roncz

Airfoil

Empty weight: 2,269 lb (1,029 kg)

Gross weight: 3,600 lb (1,633 kg)

Fuel capacity: 92 US gallons (348 litres)

Powerplant: 1 × Six cylinder horizontally opposed aircraft engine, 310 hp (230 kW)

Continental IO-550-N

Propellers: 3-bladed

Data from Cirrus website^[82] and The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage^[83]

General characteristics

Performance

Avionics

Cirrus SR20

(fanjet)

Cirrus Vision SF50

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Official website

Lee, Henry (26 January 2015). . San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 28 January 2015.