Cirrus Sr-20

Single Piston· 1,024 globally registered

The Cirrus SR20 revolutionized general aviation when it entered production in 1999 as the first certified aircraft equipped with a whole-airframe parachute recovery system, the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), designed to lower the entire aircraft and occupants safely to the ground in an emergency. Built by Cirrus Aircraft in Duluth, Minnesota, the SR20 is a four-seat composite single-engine piston aircraft powered by a Continental IO-360 producing 200 horsepower, featuring side-stick controls, a glass cockpit, and fixed tricycle landing gear. Its combination of modern avionics, composite construction, and the ballistic parachute made it a landmark design that redefined safety expectations for light aircraft. The SR20 cruises at around 155 knots with a range of approximately 800 nautical miles, making it a capable cross-country traveler for personal and training missions. Its never-exceed speed of 200 knots and max structural cruising speed of 165 knots place it comfortably in the high-performance single-engine category, while approach speeds around 77 knots and a stall speed of 57 knots in landing configuration make it accessible to pilots transitioning from trainers. The aircraft's composite airframe keeps empty weight low while providing a roomy cabin with excellent visibility through its large windows. The SR20 has become a staple of collegiate aviation programs and flight schools, prized for its safety record, modern systems, and transition value to the higher-performance SR22. Its CAPS system has been credited with saving over 100 lives since introduction, validating Cirrus's philosophy that the parachute is the ultimate backup when all other options are exhausted. The type remains in production today, continuously updated with improved avionics and powerplant options. SkyMeter has tracked 3,448 flights across 727 airframes and 463 operators, with WESTWIND SCHOOL OF AERONAUTICS PHOENIX LLC DBA, UNITED AVIATE AC the largest observed operator.