To commemorate their 8,000th airplane delivery, they are making only 8 of these.

It has Volt wings, amazing paint patterns, and leather stitching...

And Wow, do they know how to make a marketing video!
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[youtube]https://youtu.be/SAGiOuBl23k[/youtube]

I think we are all too sober to listen to the opening of the song on that video.

Impressive airplane, but what does that paint job remind me of....
oh yeah, a 2004 Cessna Corvalis/TTX.

I hesitated to respond because Cirrus should be praised for what they've achieved - and you're right Arlen, their Marketing department is solid. I just wish Textron cared a bit more.

Definitely the similar Volt color..

I haven’t seen the price yet for these 8 special planes, but I’d guess they exceed $1 million. I’m sure their rarity boosts the price..

Here are some shots captured from the Cirrus video above:
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8,000 airframes is impressive. They will likely surpass the 10,500 or so V-tail Bonanzas ever produced. If the average price across the model years is $500,000 then 8000 airframes is $4 billion in sales. People who started with the company at age 30 in 2000 would be 50 today, and might expect to stay until retirement.

Cirrus is a once in a generation success story for GA. I hope it’s not the last.

4 blade prop is cool looking. I didn't read their literature but I wonder how it performs. They wouldn't use it if it didn't perform well . . . but how well, and is that available on their standard planes?

Or, they may use it for marketing purposes because it looks cool.

Climb might be neutral or slightly increased, cruise will be decreased, typically.

More blades generally lowers the cruise efficiency of a prop. If that's not true, then there has been unequal effort in optimization and the fewer blade prop could be improved. I would assume the 3 blade prop is about as good as it can get.

These changes are small enough they probably won't publish changed numbers, sweeping the changes into the general unit to unit variation.

Mike C.

I went from a 3 blade to a 4 blade with a cirrus power plant on my plane and I saw slightly shorter takeoff, better climb by 100-200fpm, and better cooling in climb and cruise, cruise speed was the same, and the biggest benefit was the air braking effect, so much more drag when you want it

It was a good upgrade and I’d do it again given the choice

Interesting marketing on this. More emphasis on looks as opposed to safety, avionics, etc. No criticism here, Cirrus is good for GA.

Cirrus success is mostly attributed to their PR department. Like most businesses, the sales people are the ones that make a company, not the RD department...
If you don't bring in the cash, it does not matter how good of a product you have... You won't make it...

Cirrus has been an amazing company so far.

It wouldn't be hard. I'd say they couldn't care less, but they are still producing a few piston airplanes from time to time.

+1

GA would be much worse off without the products and success of Cirrus. They benefit even their competitors, by generating excitement for GA.

Textron cares. I bet they spent 1/100th of what Cirrus did on their ad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr3TMjn ... e=youtu.be