Cirrus Aircraft has launched a version of the SR22 specifically tailored to Australian conditions.
Called the Australis, the new aircraft was flown into Australia last Wednesday and took centre stage on the Cirrus stand at Avalon.
“At Cirrus we take pride in first listening to our customers and then incorporating that input and feedback into the design of the airplane," said Todd Simmons, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer of Cirrus Aircraft. "When we do, we don't just deliver an airplane, but instead a lasting aviation experience that exceeds our owners’ and operators’ expectations.
“Australis is the latest example of our unique approach. This Special Edition aircraft provides Australian aviators with an exclusive aircraft solution that is fine-tuned to their operating environment and just stunning on the apron.”
The Australis features air conditioning, UV protection windows, PLB, four-person survival kit, four-in-one back-up gauges, claw tie-downs and a two-year subscription to the AvPlan EFB.
It came about because Cirrus' Aircraft Regional Director Graham Horne saw a need for an aeroplane that had many of the features of the SR22GTS, but not all of them. He picked the options he wanted from the GTS and had them placed on an SR22 airframe with a non-turbo engine.
"I looked at the GTS, which has just about everything, and I looked at the things that I would want as a minimum," he told Australian Flying. "Rarely in Australia do people want Flight-into-Known-Icing (FIKI); they do buy it for when they want to go in and around Melbourne and places like that, but the majority of aircraft we sell clean-wing.
"They launched UV windows to reduce the chances of skin cancer, but also it makes the cockpit 30% cooler.
"I wanted all these nice bits, so I put it to Cirrus that we would make a plane just for Australia."
The specification is unique to Australia, meaning that customers outside the country wanting many of the options on the Australis will need to buy the top-of-the-range SR22GTS in order to get them.
The Australis features custom interior and exterior designs available in two very distinctive trim levels. The premium version includes two-tone paint exterior and an array of accent colour options that Cirrus says aims to capture the hues of Australia. The premuim interior includes bolstered leather seats with contrast stitching, carbon fibre accents on the instrument panel and polished lights and vents throughout the cabin.
A Southern Cross motif has been branded on both the interior and exterior.
Other options can be added to the standard Australis package, but not subtracted.
It appears the Australis is already a hit with the Australian market, with four airframes already sold.