417 Cirrus SR22, Vision Jet and SR20 Design with Mike VanStaagen
3/11/20261 hr 6 min
Max talks with Mike VanStaagen about the design philosophy behind the Cirrus SR20, SR22, and SF50 Vision Jet, and how Cirrus rethought what pilots and passengers should experience inside an airplane. Mike explains how his architectural mindset helped him bring together competing ideas at Cirrus and turn them into aircraft that felt modern, spacious, intuitive, and comfortable.
They discuss why Cirrus focused so heavily on easier entry and exit, better visibility on the ground and in flight, and a roomier cabin than traditional GA airplanes. Mike describes how ideas borrowed from the auto industry shaped the Cirrus cockpit, from the pilot-centered layout to the center console and cleaner instrument panel design. He also shares the story of how a tiny clay model helped convince Cirrus leadership to move away from a conventional flat panel toward the now-familiar Cirrus interior.
The conversation then turns to the Vision Jet, including the secret garage project where the concept first took shape, why the aircraft ended up with a distinctive V-tail, and how hours spent inside an early mockup led to key design breakthroughs. This is a fascinating look at how thoughtful design changed modern personal aviation.
If you're getting value from this show, please support the show via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or Patreon.
Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets
Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk.
Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1299
NEW – Lightspeed Zulu 4 Headset $1099
Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $949
Lightspeed Sierra Headset $749
My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu
Send us your feedback or comments via email
If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone.
Mentioned on the ShowBuy Max Trescott's G3000 Book Call 800-247-6553
BeechBash in Kentucky
The Flight Academy Adventure Tours
+V Advisory glide slopes with less than 250 feet clearance from obstacles
Free Index to the first 282 episodes of Aviation New Talk
So You Want To Learn to Fly or Buy a Cirrus seminars
Online Version of the Seminar Coming Soon – Register for Notification
Check out our recommended ADS-B receivers, and order one for yourself. Yes, we'll make a couple of dollars if you do.
Get the Free Aviation News Talk app for iOS or Android.
Check out Max's Online Courses: G1000 VFR, G1000 IFR, and Flying WAAS & GPS Approaches. Find them all at: https://www.pilotlearning.com/
Social Media
Like Aviation News Talk podcast on Facebook
Follow Max on Instagram
Follow Max on Twitter
Listen to all Aviation News Talk podcasts on YouTube or YouTube Premium
"Go Around" song used by permission of Ken Dravis; you can buy his music at kendravis.com
If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsMax Trescott· Host0:01
Regardless of what kind of airplane you fly, you probably like good design. I know I do. Whether it's the outside pleasing lines that make an aircraft go fast or the interior design that makes it easier and more comfortable to fly, design is important. And I've said here on this show many times that the Vision Jet is my favorite aircraft, and it's primarily because of its great design both inside and out. So I was thrilled a year and a half ago to meet the person responsible for much of the overall design of Cirrus Aircraft, and today we have him on the show. Mike Van Staalduinen will talk about the thinking behind the SR20, SR22, and Vision Jet and why great aircraft design is about far more than just the performance numbers. Stick around and hear his stories about the process of designing Cirrus Aircraft. Hello again, and welcome to Aviation News Talk, where we talk general aviation. My name is Max Trescott. I've been flying for 50 years. I'm the author of several books and the 2008 National Flight Instructor of the Year, and my mission is to help you become the safest possible pilot. Last week in episode 416, we talked with Jason Blair about how to build a professional pilot career path with fewer delays, mistakes, and also having a better chance of getting hired. So if you didn't hear that episode, you may want to check it out at aviationnewstalk.com/416. And if you are new to this show, welcome. Glad you found us. Now, if you would, in whatever app you're using, touch either the Subscribe key or in Spotify or the Apple Podcast app, the Follow