General Aviation

Cirrus SR22

Manufacturer: Cirrus

The Cirrus SR22 is a single‑engine, four‑ or five‑seat composite aircraft introduced in 2001. It is a development of the SR20, featuring a larger wing, more powerful engine, and a full glass cockpit. The SR22 has a whole‑plane parachute system and has become the best‑selling general‑aviation airplane of the 21st century.

Aircraft Facts

Type Key
cirrus-sr22
Class
General Aviation
Registry Count
6,943
Example Registration
N10000

Specifications

Wingspan
11.7 m / 38.3 ft
Length
7.9 m / 26 ft
Height
2.7 m / 8.9 ft
Max Speed
339 km/h / 211 mph
Cruise Speed
339 km/h / 211 mph
Range
1943 km / 1049 nmi
Ceiling
5334 m / 17500 ft
Production Start
2001
Total Built
8785

Aircraft Overview

History

The SR22 was certified in November 2000 and entered production in 2001 as a more powerful version of the SR20. It introduced a larger wing, higher fuel capacity, and a 310‑hp engine, later upgraded to 315 hp in the turbo version. The aircraft has been the world's best‑selling general‑aviation airplane every year since 2003, with 8,246 units delivered by 2024.

Design

The SR22 is a low‑wing, cantilever monoplane built from composite materials. It has fixed tricycle landing gear with a castering nose wheel and uses differential braking for steering. The cockpit features a side‑stick control that combines a yoke and stick, a full glass cockpit with a primary flight display, and the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) for whole‑plane recovery.

Variants

Variants include the original SR22, the G2 and G3 generations with improved wings and gear, the turbo‑normalised SR22 Turbo and SR22T with a 315‑hp engine, the G5 and G6 upgrades adding avionics and safety features, the G7 and G7+ with a larger cockpit and Safe Return autoland, and the TRAC training version.

Operations

The SR22 is used by flight schools, air charter and small air‑taxi operators, private owners, and government agencies. Military operators include the French Air and Space Force, Saudi Royal Air Force, and the U.S. Minnesota State Patrol. The aircraft also serves law‑enforcement, search‑and‑rescue, and training roles worldwide.

Notable Facts

  • First light aircraft to feature a full glass cockpit.
  • World's best‑selling general‑aviation airplane every year since 2003.
  • Most produced GA aircraft of the 21st century, with 8,246 units delivered 2001‑2024.
  • First piston aircraft equipped with a whole‑plane parachute system (CAPS).
  • 2003 SR22 displayed in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
  • 2025 G7+ added Safe Return emergency autoland, the first piston aircraft with autoland.
  • 11,000th SR-series aircraft completed in December 2025.
  • By 2006, over 90% of new light aircraft had glass cockpits due to the SR22.
  • Ryan Campbell used an SR22 to become the youngest pilot to fly solo around the world at age 19.
  • SR22 was the first aircraft to have a side‑stick control combining a yoke and stick.

Variants

  • SR22- 3,991 registrations - Example N1000V
  • SR22T- 2,949 registrations - Example N10000
  • SR-22T- 1 registrations - Example N523NU
  • SR22- 1 registrations - Example N221AZ
  • SR22-GTS G7 Carbon- 1 registrations - Example N524CC

Machine-Readable Resources

Sources