Talking about a new generation

For pilots, the key G3 (for Generation Three) addition is controller-pilot data link communications (CPDLC)—a workload- and error-reducing feature that provides automated clearances, flight plan updates, and frequency changes on the ground and in the air.

At participating airports, a departing SF50 G3 can get an air traffic control text that shows up on the Garmin G3000 system as a message. The pilot reviews it, and accepts it, and it’s automatically loaded into the active flight plan. The CPDLC system allows pilots to bypass overburdened radio frequencies and avoid data input errors.

“It’s hard to imagine how big an improvement CPDLC is until you see it in action,” says Matt Bergwall, Cirrus executive director of the Vision Jet product line. “Pilots immediately recognize the benefits, and they absolutely love it.”

Inside the cabin, the G3 has six seats instead of seven. The two child seats in the wayback are replaced with a bench seat that can accommodate two adults.

“Our customers have told us they’d like to have room for three couples, and the G3 provides that,” Bergwall said.

The seats themselves have been redesigned for added comfort, and there are mounting and charging ports for electronic devices in some of the seatbacks.

The exterior of the airplane allows for black deicing boots that better match the dark paint schemes most customers adopt. Previously, SF50 boots had a silver tone.

“The black boots also tend to show the presence of structural ice better because there’s more contrast,” Bergwall said.

The SF50 G3 allows owners to get Garmin automatic database updates and use the Cirrus IQ system, a cloud-based connectivity platform, for remote aircraft monitoring, maintenance records, and approach scoring.

The wing tips include LED landing/taxi lights that are far brighter than the lights on previous models and sleek “Spectra” shapes similar to those on piston SR20s and SR22s.

The G3 is fitted with the same Williams FJ33 engine as previous models, and the service ceiling remains 31,000 feet. The aircraft price ranges from $3 million to $3.5 million, and there’s a roughly nine-month backlog.

Cirrus has delivered more than 700 SF50s since 2016, and it’s been the top-selling single-engine GA jet every year since 2018.

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