Unlike The Stock Market, The Cirrus Vision Soars

We got the chance to learn about the Cirrus Vision SJ50 and I’ve got to say that it’s a stunning mark of aviation machinery. This, in a time where the experience and innovation of flying conjures thoughts of delays, shoddy service and general inconvenience.

The Cirrus Vision uses a spherical design as opposed to traditional plane designs that follow a tube-like shape. The aircraft’s interior has a distinctive air of luxury supercar (Porsche) that swaths you and six passengers in luxurious appointments, and does so with gusto. The single-engine jet is powered by a Williams International FJ33 Fanjet and will cruise about 300 knots (345 mph) at an altitude of 25,000 feet.

Lest you think small aircraft are dangerous, know this - they aren’t. And if my terse response provides you no comfort, also know that the Vision SJ50 has a full-jet parachute. Consider it an airbag for your plane. Expect more from me on this if I get the opportunity to fly in one.

More images of the impressive Cirrus Vision SJ50 after the jump.

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Right now, a revolution is occuring in aviation. If you haven’t noticed, the team here at GP enjoys a healthy dose of vehicular obsession, be it by land, sea or air. That’s why we are excited that today, the ICON A5 shed its cloak at AirVenture 2008. This will be the first time the public will be able to experience the A5 amphibian model in person, and even more importantly - place their own orders in person.

Read on for more information about the ICON A5 and additional images.

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Forget saving up for a car or home. A single-engine jet is what you need. An Eclipse 400 at that. The Eclipse 400 is a single-jet powered plane that cruises 41,000 feet aloft at a speed of 380mph propelled by the 1,200 lbs of thrust enimating from its Pratt & Whitney PW615 engine. That’s three miles above its nearest competitor, if you care about that kind of thing. If you’re in life where owning a jet is possible, then we assume you are.

You and three companions will be enclosed in a leather swathed cabin/digital-cockpit alongside a 36 foot wingspan in a one of the most fuel-efficient jets (one pound of fuel per nautical mile). Oh, and a paint scheme that automatically qualifies it for the Gear Patrol seal of approval. Don’t take our word for it, take a look at the incredibly delicious pictures after the jump.

Cost: $1,350,000 @ Eclipse Aviation

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The VH-71 is a good looking helicopter. That is, until we read on Danger Room that this little beauty and it’s 28 sisters will cost the U.S. around $11 bilion dollars to operate, about $400 million per chopper. Airwolf didn’t even cost that much and at least they had Jan-Micahel Vincent at the helm. Just for sake of reference, the cost of the U.S. Marine One is more than Beoing 747 based Air Force One. Don’t get me wrong. We enjoy a good helicopter and the HMX-1 , Marine Helicopter Squadron One “The Nighthawks” do an underappreciated task. They’re amazing feats of engineering, but $11,000,000,000 is just a pinch too much to fathom. The President requires no holds bards protection, that’s undeniable, but all the other dignitaries, VIP’s and people no one cares about need to ride Coach with the rest.

I suppose there’s a group of acquisition managers toasting a drink to this deal and either they’re either genius bastards or pork barrel evangelists. [via Danger Room and Washington Post]

What this means to you: How much are we supposed to be getting with “Economic Stimulus Plan?” Food for thought.

The Osprey V22 from Boeing may be one of the most incredible looking and functioning aircrafts you never come in contact with. Its ability to function like a heavy-duty turboprop at high-speeds and high altitudes, then tilt its nacale Rolls-Royce Allison turbshafts to land and hover like a helicopter, then fold its wings back into itself to ship and store makes it a modern day transformer.

Then again, it might be about as rare as an actual transformer as there are only three in the US Air Force fleet (having cost more than 30 billion dollars to develop). Interestingly enough, two of three can be seen in first sequence of the Transformers movie.

• Max Speed: 316 mph
• Range: 1011 miles
• Rate of Climb: 2,320 ft per minute
• Horsepower: 6,150 hp, each engine

What this means to the armed forces: It’s rapid self-deployment will make it the only vertical platform able to reach any worldwide operation. Basically, now that they can actually make it - they’re going to.

Cost: ~$1.1 Billion (each) @ Boeing

With a top speed of 700mph (mach .92), a cruising altitude of 43,000 feet (max 51k) where air traffic is merely an afterthought, the Cessna Citation X will get you and 5 others to your destination in no time. On the other hand, the task of earning enough money to own one of these planes may take just longer than a flight from JFK to Heathrow.

Actually, The concept of private flying is less ridiculous than one might think… partial ownership of this plane will only set you back a few million. Want it all to yourself (and who wouldn’t)? Well, prepare to shell out more than 20 million for one of the 24 planes Cessna builds a year.

What this means to you: The sheer genius of being able to say “Yeah… it does about a mach.” may be well worth the cost of entry.

Cost: > $20,000,000 @ Cessna

As if there aren’t already enough cars you’re lusting after, Honda has to go and make the HondaJet. A 1+6 passenger Business/Personal Jet capable of taking you and your lucky passengers 1400 nautical miles (2583km) and a maximum speed of 420 knots (483mph). That’s enough to get you from LaGuardia to Miami-Dade International for a jet-set weekend.

Cost: Est. 3.65 million | Pre-order @ Honda

Photo of cabin layout after the jump.

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