When the first Vision light jets are built in Duluth and delivered to buyers probably late this year, Cirrus Aircraft will have created a new category of airplane.
The single-engine personal jet.
The Vision SF-50 Jet will be the first to fill the gap between high-performance propeller planes and light busiCirrus jet will be first to marketness jets.
Other aircraft manufacturers have tried and failed to develop similar small owner/pilot jets, including Piper Aircraft. Cirrus' biggest competition in developing a light personal jet was Diamond Industries with its D-Jet. But Diamond's jet program stalled when funding dried up during the economic recession, then was resumed, only to be suspended again.
That leaves Duluth-based Cirrus poised to be the first aircraft manufacturer to bring a single-engine personal jet to market.
In a 2013 interview with the News Tribune, aviation industry analyst Richard Aboulafia said the company that first fills a niche in the low end of the light-jet market will have an advantage, especially if it doesn't have competition.
Being first will have an enormous impact, agreed Todd Simmons, Cirrus' executive vice president of sales, marketing and customer support.
"It's a huge competitive advantage in the marketplace," he said. "We feel we are well ahead."
And with more than 550 orders for the $1.96 million Vision jet, the demand is there.
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