About Cirrus | Cirrus Aircraft

About Cirrus Aircraft

For over twenty years our team has delivered an aviation experience that is the pinnacle of innovation, quality and safety to our customers. And we’re just getting started.

Beginnings

Beginnings

In 1984, Dale and Alan Klapmeier took over the family’s barn in Baraboo, Wisconsin and began work on what later would become Cirrus Aircraft. Their first project was the VK-30, a pusher-propeller, five passenger home-built kit airplane.

1984
The Kit Plane

The Kit Plane

The VK-30 celebrated its first flight in 1988 and the company started delivering kits to customers. Demand grew and in 1994 Cirrus Aircraft expanded into a 30,000 square foot R&D facility in Duluth, MN, and shortly after opened a composite production facility in Grand Forks, ND.

1988
Taking Flight

Taking Flight

In the mid-1990’s, Cirrus discontinued production of the VK-30 and launched the SR20 – a single-piston composite airplane that changed the world of general aviation. The SR20 featured a 10-inch multi-function display and side-yoke flight controllers.

Not long after, a complete glass cockpit was also added to the SR Series – it was the first primary flight display incorporated in to a small certified aircraft and became an industry standard with other manufacturers following Cirrus’ lead.

1995
Redefining Safety

Redefining Safety

A desire to redefine safety in aviation inspired the company to include a revolutionary whole-plane parachute system as standard equipment on all Cirrus aircraft – the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®). It was the industry’s first general aviation parachute system produced in an FAA certified aircraft. And to date, Cirrus continues to be the only company to include a whole airframe parachute as standard equipment on all certified aircraft models.

1998
Delivery Day

Delivery Day

The first SR20 was delivered in Duluth, MN in 1999. With plans to increase production and to develop a new aircraft model, Cirrus expanded into a 111,000 square foot manufacturing facility adjacent to its R&D headquarters in Duluth.

1999
Birth of an Icon

Birth of an Icon

In 2000, Cirrus received a Type Certificate for a composite piston aircraft with a larger wing, larger fuel capacity and more powerful engine – the SR22. Just three years later, the SR22 became the world’s best-selling general aviation airplane for the first time, and has continued to hold that distinction every year since.

2000
The Jet Age

The Jet Age

Cirrus unveiled plans to develop a single engine turbofan personal jet in 2007, and it quickly became the most anticipated aircraft in the company’s history. The Vision Jet™ took its inaugural flight on July 3, 2008 and the first conforming prototypes took flight in 2014.

2007
Going Turbo

Going Turbo

A turbocharged SR22T was added to the lineup in 2010. Cirrus Aircraft also partnered with Garmin® to launch progressive avionics improvements exclusive to Cirrus aircraft – a collaboration that continues to develop sophisticated flight decks tailored for Cirrus aircraft each year.

2010
Creating a Vision

Creating a Vision

As the next step in redefining personal aviation, Cirrus broke ground on the Vision Center Campus in Knoxville, Tennessee in 2015 – its flagship Customer Experience location, including sales, delivery, training, maintenance, support, personalization, fixed base operations and more. The first phase of the Vision Center opened in 2016 and the Vision Jet Flight Training Center opened in 2018.

2015
The World’s First Personal Jet

The World’s First Personal Jet

The Vision Jet received Type Certification on October 28, 2016 – the first jet built by a single-engine piston aircraft company to be certified in over 40 years.

2016
Making History

Making History

The Vision Jet won the Robert J. Collier Trophy – the world’s most prestigious aviation award – for developing the world’s first single-engine Personal Jet and implementing CAPS on the Vision Jet. Dale Klapmeier, Cirrus Aircraft Co-founder and Senior Advisor, accepted the award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

2018
Visionary

Visionary

The Vision Jet became the first jet aircraft to be FAA certified with Garmin-powered Safe Return™, allowing passengers to land the jet with just the touch of a button in case of an emergency. The Safe Return autoland system was awarded the 2020 Robert J. Collier Trophy.

2020

Our History of Innovation

Twenty years ago, we re-imagined personal aviation with the SR Series. It redefined performance, style, comfort and safety. But we didn’t stop there. In 2016, we ushered in a new era in transportation with the Vision Jet – the world’s first single-engine Personal Jet™.

Each year, we raise the bar with continuous improvements like sophisticated avionics and luxurious interiors. And we continue to redefine safety through our unique flight training program, Cirrus Approach, along with a host of tools and services to help us deliver a world-class experience to our customers across the globe.

The Plane with the Parachute

As the world’s first whole airframe parachute system included as standard equipment, CAPS® has returned 193 people to their families.

Redefining Flight Training

In 2016, Dale Klapmeier accepted the Joseph T. Nall Safety Award by AOPA for improving safety standards across all facets of aviation through Cirrus Approach™.

The World’s First Personal Jet

We ushered in a new era in personal transportation with the FAA certification of the Vision Jet.

Aviation’s Most Prestigious Award

In 2018, the Vision Jet was awarded the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy by the National Aeronautic Association.

Landing with the Touch of a Button

Safe Return™ emergency autoland revolutionizes passenger safety and joins CAPS® in creating a total safety solution, exclusive to the Vision Jet.

Media & Press

Find our logos, press kits and latest announcements.

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World-Class Customer Experience


Our commitment to innovation continues throughout the lifetime of your ownership experience. From aircraft delivery to flight training and service, our talented team makes owning a Cirrus aircraft rewarding, safe and simple.

Our Mission


We are a passionate team of aviation enthusiasts – from pilots and mechanics, to engineers and accountants. Our individual backgrounds are unique but we share a singular mission: To deliver an aviation experience that is the pinnacle of innovation, quality and safety to our customers.

Join Our Team

Our team is our greatest resource and we’re always looking for talented folks to join us as we continue to push the boundaries of personal aviation in the many years to come.

Careers

Leadership

Zean Nielsen

Chief Executive Officer

Todd Simmons

President, Customer Experience

Patrick Waddick

President, Innovation & Operations

George Letten

Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Tim Sheridan

Head of People & Human Resources

Ravi Dharnidharka

Senior Vice President, Cirrus Services & Business Development

John Gallo

Senior Vice President, Operations

Ken Harness

Senior Vice President, Product Development

Ben Kowalski

Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing

Boni Caldeira

Vice President, Aircraft Sales (Domestic)

Stephen Deucker

Vice President, Owner Experience & General Manager, Vision Center

Rob Haig

Vice President, Flight Training & Chief Pilot

Eric Brammer

Vice President, Aircraft Maintenance

David Moser

Vice President, Fleet & Special Mission Sales

Brandon Pavlish

Vice President, Quality & Continuous Improvement

Partners

  • Audi

    Audi

    With an uncompromising focus on performance and engineering, Audi continuously disrupts the industry with stunning designs and intuitive technology. It means confident driving, superior handling and an excuse to turn heads as you pull into your garage or into your hangar. Audi is an official partner of the Cirrus Aircraft Vision Center Campus in Knoxville, TN.

  • MasterCraft

    MasterCraft

    Much like Cirrus Aircraft, the first Mastercraft boat was built in a barn out of a desire to transform the performane and expectations of a ski boat. Nearly 50 years later, Mastercraft is the recognized force in luxury towboat market with its premium performance inboard wakesurfing, wakeboarding and ski boats. Mastercraft is an official partner of the Cirrus Aircraft Vision Center Campus in Knoxville, Tennessee.

  • Bose

    Bose

    A relentless pursuit to deliver a premium experience is something we understand. As the global leader in headphones and speakers, Bose believes that better sound comes through research and a constant refusal to accept the status quo. Because better technology tunes out the noise so you can forge a clearer path, up in the air or on the ground. Bose is our preferred supplier of aviation headsets at all Cirrus Aircraft locations.

  • Garmin

    Garmin

    As the pioneer in GPS technology, Garmin was the quintessential partner to develop the next generation of flight decks for Cirrus Aircraft. Cirrus Perspective™ by Garmin® was customized exclusively for our SR Series aircraft in 2008, and together we’ve continued to tailor the most sophisticated and intuitive avionics in the world, including Cirrus Perspective Touch™ by Garmin® for the Vision Jet.

Contact Us

Get in touch with us.

From training to sales, and everything in between. Our team is available to help Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm CST.

 

 +1-218-529-7200 (International)

 +1-833-735-0651 (United States)

 info@cirrusaircraft.com

Need Aircraft Support?

Our technical support team is here to help with general support and After Hours AOG/Emergency Assistance.

 

 +1-218-788-3000 (International)

 +1-800-921-2737 (United States)

 fieldservice@cirrusaircraft.com

Can We Help?

If you need assistant or have a question let us know! We'll route your question to the best expert on our team and be in touch soon.