I got a mailer from Cirrus for an event at the KC Airline History Museum to include tours of the museum, cocktail hour, talks by Cirrus and the CEO of Garmin and, of course, a chance to look at the Cirrus products. I have spent a couple of years getting my A-36 where I want it so I don't see myself as a serious customer at this point. But.....I must have missed the mailer from Textron/Beechcraft.....

Cirrus is obviously looking for new business.

John

John,

I can guarantee that you will be impressed. Have fun!

Thanks. I am curious although I have never flown in one.

When are we going!?!

The piston line takes 4-5 planes sold to equal the profit and commission of one CJ. They don’t want the small money; you have to beg them to sell a piston engine plane to you. The same applies for the King Air. A buddy from initial just bought a PC-24 and a Phenom 100. Well, once they build it he will own it. Both companies actively market at a level that is impressive!

Diamond and Cirrus want your business for their “little planes” because that and safety (CAPS) is their focus as is your growth as a pilot.

The side stick and control forces with the spring take a few minutes to get used to. After a few landings with the instructor it gets easier. The plane is fast and you can’t raise the nose and drop the gear to slow down if you get lazy. You also don’t have to fly well below VLo and baby a gear motor hoping it lasts until annual and the gear motor overhaul.

They are not cheap aircraft but they are nice, fast, and efficient. They are nowhere near as comfy as your Bo or Baron with comfy overstuffed seats. The first ride in an SR-22 with just you and a CFI feels like strapping on a race at.

What he said....

One wonders why Textron even keeps the piston lines and the King Air series.
Not making any major new investment in either. (G1000NXi and Fusion are third party advancements).

Milking the platforms in new unit sales, and of course maintenance & parts revenue streams. But eventually, without real investment any product line withers.

John,

I received the mailer as well and signed up.

I have never flown in one and am looking for a 36, however I am curious enough to attend and check it out.

My former CFI is a cirrus transition approved instructor, He kept pushing me too buy a new Cirrus as I was completing my training. I finally asked him after several attempts, what he received out of the deal. He replied, "about $50k" if you buy one and I am responsible for the purchase.

I found that interesting on several levels, if true.
,
Hopefully I will see you there John.

Scott

Sounds good, If you want some A-36 insight, I would be happy to show you mine. This is my third one and I just finished getting it where I want it (for now).

I am based at GPH.

John

You will love it, the food is always great and the event itself is impressive on many other levels.

There is a Diamond sales team up here. The wife and husband are absolutely fantastic people and they do the transition training. At one point he could not get the planes fast enough new or used.

While I am not sure of the commission on a new aircraft, 5%-6% of negotiated price and 10% at or near retail would not surprise me.

That kind of thinking is exactly how Garmin ate Bendix/King alive... from the bottom up.

Obligatory

Cirrus has had a great sales program since day one. Back in 2005 they came to Asheville and were giving rides to prospective buyers. Glass panels were really a new thing back then: