I applaud cirrus for dropping the heck out of their fatal accident rate in the last few years. AOPA had a great article on it this month.

That will sell more new planes than anything else.

Love or hate the parachute, it is easier to train pulling a handle than most other emergency procedures. Training in mu2 was awesome, though I have many friends who would not enjoy spending that much time learning and training to fly a plane proficiently.

I always would rather try my luck in an airplane with more redundancy and rely on my training to get to the ground in one piece, but clearly I am a minority in the market.

But then again, I spend most of my free time rock climbing, and parachutes are not effective safety nets in that pursuit either :-)

I'm doing my primary training right now in a G2 SR20. It's a great plane and I'm seriously tempted by the G5 SR22s, but the big thing that keeps pulling me to the {A,B}36 Bonanzas is that cabin. We've got two growing boys and a 70lb Lab, and we want to use a plane to go places as a family. The G5s have the useful load we'd need, but I'm just not sure they have the cu-in. The extended baggage and removable 5th and 6th seats really make for a lot of flexibility in a family hauler that the Cirrus doesn't have.

Dean - rent a capable family plane on go on a few trips before you buy. I hope your family loves the experience; I wish mine did.

They'll go on occasion, but it's far less than I originally imagined.

Same here. "Why go in your noisy plane when we can fly United?"

Get a pressurized plane of some variety. Passengers become really happy. I never carried a single person in my Malibu who didn't prefer it over an airline. Even at an average groundspeed of 192 knots we beat the airlines almost all the time to destinations all over the US.

Better yet, get an old turbine and then you will have some REaLLY happy passengers!

I went to lunch by myself at a mid range restaurant yesterday and it was $30 with tip.

I think a lot of folks don't realize how expensive everything is nowadays even compared to just 10 years ago.

Or buy a GIV...they'll be thrilled!

If you flew them in a Bonanza they'd go all the time

Does make a difference. My wife hates to fly, always will hate to fly, but loves going places. She was fairly terrified of the car-like piston aircraft including the Cirrus. She really hates to be able to see out all the windows at the same time, especially when IMC. There is probably some comfort in thinking that maybe the pilot sees something out the window In the PA46 she much happier. Sits in the back, pulls down the shades, pulls out her computer and I guess pretends she is somewhere that is not twenty something thousand feet in the air.

As pilots, I think sometimes we like to transfer our desires to our passengers. We would love big windows, maybe even an open cockpit catching bugs with our teeth, but that is not most passengers. Look on an airliner the number of people that close their widow shades at the first opportunity.

Same here. "Why go in your noisy plane when we can fly United?"

What did a new SR22 cost when it was introduced? A fraction of what a new one costs today. I wish is was priced lower - I'd be in one. Amazing how prices have increased. 300k+ for a new 172? Crazy.

Potential customers see, and what, the chute. It's clearly a sales leader. Their investment in technology continues to impress many, and as a result they get sales. Give them credit and good for them. get more birds flying and keep GA growing.

Boy is this the truth! I want to replace the airlines. My wife doesn't mind them and points out 1st class is cheaper than flying. Her minimal requirement is a potty, speed and comfortable cabin. She specifically requests window shades and vetoed the Vision jet because of the windows.

I think that was a big overlook in the Vision jet designers, the sun up in the twenties is brutal, especially if there is a white undercast. Half of the atmosphere that filters the intense sun is below 18,000 feet. Maybe they will have some pull down shades in the later production models once they get some feedback.

Boy is this the truth! I want to replace the airlines. My wife doesn't mind them and points out 1st class is cheaper than flying. Her minimal requirement is a potty, speed and comfortable cabin. She specifically requests window shades and vetoed the Vision jet because of the windows.

Andy, great airplane that Eclipse.....