Elite Traveler July-August 2017

DISCOVER

elite traveler JULY/AUG 2017 37

Aviation

Forget piston engines, the world’s first single- turbine-engine jet is set to revolutionize personal aviation. And it’s not a prototype with deliveries still years away—the first jets have already been delivered, and there is a waiting list of over 600 Walking onto the tarmac at Westchester County Airport, New York, there was no question which plane we were going to fly; the Vision Jet looks like nothing else out there. Once inside, I started the jet as easily as starting many of today’s cars: with the push of a button. The flight deck looks radically different; it’s more akin to a car’s dashboard. Easy-to-read screens with the user-friendly Cirrus Perspective Touch system by Garmin make flying more simple by automating many of the plane’s systems, and they include many safety features that prevent dangerous flying. The 14in-wide hi-res flight displays with three touch- screen controllers offer a wealth of information about the plane at a glance, and Synthetic Vision Technology shows what’s up ahead— even if visibility is bad— so you’re always aware of hazards. If you’re nervous about flying your family without a copilot and with only a single turbofanWilliams International FJ33-5A jet engine, don’t be. Every Cirrus plane comes with the added security of a CAPS parachute, which, in case of emergency, will safely stop the plane and gently float it to the ground at a speed of 25ft per second once deployed. The goal of the Vision Jet is to make flying in a personal aircraft a comfortable experience, and it’s not just for those obsessed with aviation. To this end, you’ll find USB chargers, headphone plug-ins for Sirius radio, optional entertainment system, cup holders and more. Thanks to its monocoque carbon fiber fuselage, which is ultra light and incredibly strong, Cirrus was able to use large windows on both the sides and front of the plane, providing outstanding visibility and making the cabin feel light and airy. It comfortably sits five adults and two children in luxurious leather seats that recline and are easy to move. It’s best suited for regional transportation, so whether you’re flying between offices, on a golfing weekend hitting multiple courses, or flying to your second home, the Vision Jet — and you— can handle it. First flight: Cirrus Vision Jet

Interior With its Xi

personalization program, you can customize your plane both inside and out, even matching the color of the leather to the exact color of your Lamborghini Exterior The V-tail design is not just cool (expect air traffic controllers and other pilots to ask you what the heck you’re flying and for crowds to surround the jet on the tarmac), it is also a clever solution to reduce cabin noise by placing the engine above and behind passengers

THE CIRRUS VISION JET IN NUMBERS 6,000 lbs maximum takeoff weight 1,800 lb thrust 38.7 ft wingspan 4.1 ft cabin height 5.1 ft cabin width 300 KTAS max cruise speed 1,380 miles max range Approximately $700 per hour operating costs

From$2m, contact Boni Caldeira, +1 571 214 1022, cirrusaircraft.com

Words Kristen Shirley. Photo Chad Slattery