I was checking off a lifetime dream of mine by sitting in the captain's seat of an aircraft as we flew 25,000 feet above Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains.
While coordinating the jet's autopilot and communicating with air traffic control, I was also keeping an eye on its movement.
The aircraft, a Cirrus Vision Jet, was mine, and I did practically everything but actually make the takeoff and landing.
Perhaps I was explaining a scenario in a complete flight simulator, leading you to believe there is a catch to this.
But this was definitely real life; no question about it.
The visit to the Cirrus Aircraft Vision Center at the McGhee-Tyson Airport (TYS) in Knoxville, Tennessee, may best be described as an AvGeek heaven. The day was topped off with the flight.
The manufacturer Cirrus, which has its headquarters in Minnesota, is well recognized for creating some of the most popular general aviation aircraft on the market. Cirrus uses the Vision Center as its customer headquarters, where it conducts aircraft deliveries and training.
I experienced the complete visit: flying an SR20 simulator, watching an aircraft be delivered, understanding how Cirrus collaborates with clients to create specific aircraft upgrades, and meeting the team behind the company's instructional and promotional movies.
And yes, they also let me to fly the Cirrus Vision Jet, a real, single-engine plane.
The (simulated) plane's flight
Our tour guide for the day, Nadia Haidar, picked us up from our hotel in a stylish Audi Q8. I was joined by my colleague Mimi Wright. We then traveled to a simulator bay where we spent an hour flying an SR20 fixed-base simulator across Knoxville.
A single-engine piston propeller aircraft called the SR20 helped Cirrus achieve commercial success 25 years ago.
It is now the entry-level model for the business.
The training version of this model has recently been used by United Airlines, who is using it to teach the airline's future pilots at the United Aviate Academy in Goodyear, Arizona.
Here, under the guidance of an instructor pilot, I completed a real takeoff and landing simulation.
I took off from Knoxville's runway 5R, rose to 4,500 feet, and then made a few turns in the vicinity. Cirrus aircraft don't use conventional control yokes; a sidestick is more ergonomically akin to the joystick you'd use to play a video game.
I concluded the flight with a mock instrument approach in which the runway wasn't visible until 500 feet above the ground.
We made it in one piece, but my landing won't win any honors.
Mimi took over at that point, however she failed to land the aircraft.
Instead, a (simulated) parachute deployment marked the end of the flight.
The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System is standard equipment on all Cirrus aircraft.
You can open a parachute to bring a threatened aircraft to a landing resembling that of a spacecraft.
A pilot's use of the CAPS when in danger has reportedly saved more than 250 lives, according to Cirrus.
Another safety feature of the Vision Jet is Garmin's Safe Return autoland, which, when used by pressing a button, will instantly locate the closest accessible airport, alert ATC of the plane's intentions, and land the aircraft.
It is intended to be employed in the event that the Vision Jet's pilot is rendered incapable.
Delivery or a dance party?
The delivery facility was our next destination.
The company's high-performance single-engine piston plane, the SR22T, was waiting for us in a brand-new hanger when we returned to the Q8.
To observe an aircraft delivery, we were there.
The company is experiencing a period of growth, and once an order is received, there is a lengthy lead time for producing aeroplanes.
Naturally, buyers are also investing a sizable sum of money in these aircraft, and owners have access to a wide range of customization options to truly make the aircraft their own.
Even those who are just beginning to fly sometimes buy their own aircraft.
It would be an understatement to say that these aircraft deliveries are therefore emotional experiences for the new owners, and the company strives to provide a memorable occasion.
The business will also play some of the clients' preferred music for them in addition to a spectacular light show.
We were listening to the Rolling Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash."
(I had the impression of being at a dance party; the only thing lacking was a smoke machine.)
After the lights are turned on, the new owners conduct a walkaround acceptance inspection to look for any potential flaws.
The planes are produced in Duluth, Minnesota, and are delivered to Knoxville by a company pilot.
After that, customers fly to confirm that everything is satisfactory in a customer acceptance flight.
The official handover then takes place.
Up to six of these opulent deliveries are made by the corporation each day, with more planes being delivered in a less formal manner.
According to the business, time is valuable in the delivery hangar.
Customized solutions
Through its Xi initiative, the corporation will tailor its product line to the preferences of its wealthiest clients.
After being transported to a different building, we visited the Xi design studio, a space filled with numerous customizing options.
rudder petals of various colors.
tail decorations and distinctive color choices.
Even a picture of a slice of cheese etched in the leather of the aircraft for a die-hard Green Bay Packers supporter.
All of it is a part of the Xi process.
Customers typically arrive at Cirrus with hazy notions of what they want, and they are matched with an account manager whose responsibility it is to turn those notions into reality.
The Xi process takes place over a few months and comprises an in-person meeting with the Cirrus team, which includes dinner. This gives the team a chance to get to know a customer's personality and determine exactly what customization will be best for them.
The word "bespoke" was used so frequently during this portion of the visit that I lost count of how many times it had been used.
Just 10% of the Xi aircraft's components are shared with other aircraft, according to Cirrus.
In other words, the corporation wants each plane to feel distinctive, which is made possible by the extensive customization.
At the same time, Cirrus is working hard to expand Xi while maintaining the distinctiveness and originality of its designs, which can be difficult.
Even if you choose not to fork over the extra cash for a unique Xi design, Cirrus takes pride in having a product line that was created with input from pilots and customers.
For instance, certain Cirrus seats include built-in headphone and phone holders.
The trip of a lifetime
After that, we met Travis Wellik, our pilot, and boarded the Cirrus Vision Plane, a special single-engine jet made by Cirrus.
Travis devised the training program for the Vision Jet type, which started delivering aircraft at the end of 2016, and is about as proficient a Vision Jet pilot as they get.
The right seat on the Vision Jet G2flight +'s deck is typically used by the first officer, albeit the aircraft doesn't require one as it is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration for single-pilot flights. Nadia indicated that I would be able to sit in that position.
Then, Travis showed up and made the bargain even better by letting me take the left seat, which was the captain's seat.
Over the moon, I was.
I'm definitely one of the biggest aviators out there, but I've never actually flown a plane.
I have spent numerous hours on a home computer piloting realistic simulations of aircraft and corresponding remotely with air traffic control.
I am also an FAA certified aeroplane dispatcher.
For this flight, all of that was helpful.
Travis seemed to trust me when I duplicated and read back our flight plan clearance, which is normally one of the wordiest and most complicated forms of transmissions out there. I offered to handle ATC communications for the flight.
He even let me to taxi the jet to our departure runway while keeping a close eye on it – yes, this was quite legal.
I didn't actually fly the takeoff or landing, I admit it.
I let Travis take care of that.
But throughout our 45-minute flight, I managed the radios, adjusted the autopilot, studied the aircraft's systems, avoided several storms, and took control of the radios while also taking in the 25,000-foot view of the Smokies.
Despite Travis being our expert pilot-in-command, I very much felt like the one flying.
The Vision Jet's level of automation as well as how well it works as a whole astounded me.
Travis took control at 500 feet when we turned off the autopilot for our approach.
Alternatively put, I was fired up.
Anyone else who flies in a jet for the first time?
I was on cloud nine after the entire experience and was exhausted the remainder of the day.
My day with Cirrus has really inspired me to start building hours and make that happen sooner rather than later. I had been looking around at flight schools to start training for my private pilot license.
Cirrus uses it as a cornerstone tactic.
The company thinks that by introducing its product line to non-pilots (who can afford to buy or finance a jet, many of which sell for over $1 million), it would not only motivate them to make a purchase, but also encourage them to become pilots.
When the aircraft leave the Duluth production line and fly to Knoxville for the handover ceremony, it is hoped that the pilots will already be certified.
I can categorically state that the tactic is effective even though I don't plan to buy any Cirrus vehicles anytime soon.
I'm sucked in.
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