DULUTH, Minn. — Cirrus Aircraft has reached another milestone: The delivery of its 6,000th new airplane.
The accomplishment comes 16 years after the company delivered its first production aircraft and on the heels of a strong 2014 performance where the SR-series of aircraft maintained its position as the best-selling four/five-place aircraft in the world for the 12th year in a row, according to company officials.
The original Cirrus SR20 was introduced in 1999, followed by the SR22 in 2001 and the turbocharged SR22T in 2010.
“Our customers, partners and employees are rightfully proud of this amazing accomplishment,” said Dale Klapmeier, Co-Founder and CEO of Cirrus Aircraft. “We started Cirrus Aircraft with the entrepreneurial dream of changing the world and making people’s lives better through aviation, and we are humbled today to see 6,000 of our airplanes operating in more than 60 countries around the world.”
The company is now preparing for the introduction of its Vision SF50 jet to the marketplace. More than 550 positions have been reserved for the jet, Klapmeier reports.
Three conforming prototype test aircraft have accumulated over 500 flight test hours and the first production aircraft is currently moving down the manufacturing line in Duluth, he added.
The company also recently announced that it will build its new Vision Center in Knoxville, Tenn. It will be the flagship location for all Cirrus Aircraft customer activities including sales, delivery, training, maintenance, support, personalization, fixed base operations and more. It is scheduled to open in mid-2016.
The 6,000th aircraft will be on display at this year’s EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., from July 20-26.