New Cirrus CDRS to be Introduced at Aviation World's Fair

ANN Sponsor Cirrus was just so pleased with itself. "We've finally done it," a giddy Alan Klapmeier told us. "We have covered every foreseeable emergency contingency."

The Cirrus CDRS (Constantly-Deployed Recovery System) could be described as, "the world's highest-powered, powered parachute (PPC)," because it is.

"With the 'chute automatically deployed on takeoff," Klapmeier said, "just about anything more the pilot can do to screw up, won't hurt him. Even if he flies straight into a rock wall, he'll be going only 25 mph -- and the airbags are going to cover that."

Difficult Engineering/Marketing Decisions:

The production of such a machine was the subject of lively debate at Cirrus, for over a year. "Just as we were establishing our leadership in the 'safe and sensible' category of personal and training airplanes," the company's Ian Bentley told us in a rare interview, "along came this 'safe -- and sensible -- [garbled]' -- concept." An uncharacteristically frazzled Bentley continued, "Now I've got to go out and find a whole new market. Our regular customers like three-digit speeds too much to sell [this] to them."

PPC Industry Reaction:

ANN called on its friends at long-time sponsor Powrachute, where President (and former World Champion PPC pilot) Eddie Johnson said, "It seems like a lot of extra machine, to do what it's doing... but I guess if people want a PPC, and don't want to be out in the air, it's OK."

Specifications and Flight:

The Cirrus CDRS looks and handles just like a regular SR-20 on the ramp. The canopy isn't deployed until 15 knots shows on the airspeed indicator. That's just about rotation speed, but the pilot doesn't need to worry about rotation, per se -- the 'chute opens, and the throttle stays against the firewall, and the machine just lifts off. If the throttle remains pushed, climb rate is about 2000 fpm, with two aboard. After achieving cruise altitude, the CDRS flies like any other PPC -- more throttle means 'climb;' less means 'come down.' Forward speed is drag-limited, to 25 mph.

Once the airspeed drops below 10 knots, the canopy retracts and stows automatically, so there's no fuss on the ground. BRS is working on reducing the cost of the deployment cartridges -- it is expected that production models will use the explosion of a single 12ga shotgun shell.

If the pilot forgets to load the BRS deployment module before flight, there is an ignition cutout that keeps the engine from starting. [We have learned that, if a pilot were to bypass this safety device, he'd be left with what is essentially an SR-20, only without the ballistic parachute --ed.]

Who's gonna buy it?

There are several prospective markets, including the top end of the existing PPC crowd. A new and exciting market, though, seems to be materializing. CFIs have, for years, lamented that some people with the desire to fly, just don't seem to have the ability.

Whether it's motor skills, a lack of commitment, or a lack of time for currency, they just don't make it. This new Cirrus could be used for those folks. One CFI we talked with said, "Shoot -- I could solo somebody in this thing, who'd never make it in a 'real' airplane. Oops -- I didn't mean it to come out that way. What I meant was, 'they could get a really similar experience, with the nice cockpit and all' -- and even with passengers, as long as the speed wasn't a problem, heck -- the passengers would never know the difference!" It could be a real face-saver, huh?

Delivery positions are now being taken by Cirrus's CDRS subsidiary, which -- interestingly -- is being run by reformed trial lawyers...

FMI: www.gonnagetUsoon.com/CDRS