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Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Saturday, July 05, 2008

Cirrus prototype jet makes successful test flight

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) — Cirrus Design Corporation’s plans for a new jet have taken a big step forward with a successful test flight of a prototype.

The fork-tailed, single-engine airplane lifted off from Duluth International Airport Thursday morning and flew for 48 minutes before coming in for a smooth landing.

“The airplane flew exactly like we thought it would,” said pilot Tim Berg, a former U.S. Navy test pilot. “It handled very well and was very stable. It was the perfect test flight. There were no surprises.”

Michael Van Staagen, vice president of Cirrus’ advanced development group, calls the jet’s first flight a “a once-in-a-lifetime event.”

Company co-founder and CEO Alan Klapmeier says he’s wanted to build a jet for years, but it’s only now that the company has grown to the point where it’s possible.

He says the jet is still several years away from production, but hopes the prototype will be able to fly again for the Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association’s annual “Migration” celebration in Duluth next week, as well as for the AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wis., at the end of July.

The test airplane demonstrates Cirrus’ concept for the new aircraft, but it is built out of fiberglass, which is heavier than the reinforced carbon fiber the company plans to use in the production model.

Cirrus has 460 orders for the-jet, including $100,000 deposits for each. The five- or six-seat aircraft is expected to sell for about $1 million each.

The Duluth-based company is known for its high-performance propeller planes that come equipped with a full-frame parachute. The new jet is also expected to be equipped with a parachute that can float the plane to earth in an emergency. This parachute will likely be rocket-deployed from the jet’s nose in a two-stage fashion, Klapmeier said.