An interesting aircraft sighting today

[DWalt]

I drove by the San Antonio airport today. On the ramp of one of the FBOs was a lineup of five Cirrus SF50 Vision Jets. Very striking aircraft, but at about $3M each, I am not a customer. Interesting feature is that they have parachutes in case the jet engine goes out in flight, you can float down. They also have automatic landing. I guess they are made in the USA, but by a Chinese-owned company. I never saw or heard of them before. Vision Jet | The Next Evolution

 

[Papa Lee]

Another VLJ (Very Light Jet) entry. Original company started in a barn in Baraboo, WI.

 

[Tinyman]

Yep, Cirrus loves them parachutes. The Flight Design CTLS uses a similar type, but they let you crash your aircraft kind of safely.

 

[swsig]

I looked through the Cirrus website and found that the Vision Jet has a Safe Return Emergency Autoland system. If the pilot can no longer fly the plane, you push a button and the Vision Jet plots a course to the nearest airport, automatically avoiding bad weather and hazardous terrain, notifies the airport's emergency services, and then lands the plane. Incredible.
Here's a video:

 

[Baxter6551]

That is an amazing system. Thanks for posting that video.

 

[DWalt]

I drove by the airport FBO this morning. There are now seven SF50s on the apron. I was within about 100 yards of them. No idea why there would be so many of them in one place.

 

[soFlaNative]

Sales, service and training most likely.
They've been at Executive Airport in North Lauderdale at least since January.

 

[mojave30cal]

For $3 million plus you get your money worth.

 

[Tinyman]

And they still have a parachute.