When the sky is the limit, where do Rotarians go on a cloudy Thursday afternoon in August? Duluth’s own visionary general aviation innovator Cirrus Aircraft of course!

Rotarians gathered for a very special field trip to the Duluth World Headquarters and manufacturing facility to see firsthand how Cirrus Aircraft pursues its stated mission: “To deliver an aviation experience that is the pinnacle of innovation, quality, and safety to our customers.” Although NO PHOTOS were allowed during the tour, many impressive images will remain with Rotarians for a long time.

Rotarians were divided into a number of tour groups led by a Cirrus employee for what was a complete “behind the scenes” look at every stage of the manufacturing process. Rotarians were requested to wear protective eyewear to guard against FOD…  What’s FOD you ask? Foreign Object Debris – and Cirrus Aircraft is vigilant in steadfastly keeping FOD at bay. In fact, if one FOD is found within a Cirrus aircraft under construction, the entire aircraft has to be disassembled and inspected before it may be reassembled… Talk about extensive quality control!

Here, Club #25 Rotarian Earl Rogers signs in for his tour.

 

 

One of our tour group leaders was Roseau, Minnesota native Keith Severson who is also the Duluth president of the Cirrus Aircraft Flying Club seen here among Cirrus Aircraft merchandise.

 

  

The “Severson Squadron” began its tour with a quick walk to the tarmac to take a close look at a Cirrus Vision Jet, a personal-use jet for general aviation. Later in the plant tour, we saw how this rugged aircraft is meticulously put together – not unlike an adult sized model airplane kit! The Vision Jet is constructed with a one-piece pressurized cabin that allows any pilot to climb as high as 32,000 feet. The “Glass Cockpit” provides the pilot touch-screen ease of use of instruments and indicators protected by redundant electrical backup systems.  If the Vision Jet, or its iconic piston driven cousin the SR22, ever need an emergency landing, the revolutionary whole-airframe ballistic parachutes deploys. They have a 100 percent success rate of survival when the parachute is deployed within its parameters. Cirrus Aircraft – Duluth employs 1,400 people in areas of administration, manufacturing, marketing, and more. Other facilities in North Dakota and Tennessee employ hundreds more.  There are currently over 400 open positions. Cirrus Aircraft produces 7 SR model aircraft and 1.5 Vision Jets every week. There are 500 Vision Jet orders waiting to be filled.

       

Cirrus Aircraft sees their various models as “lifestyle choices” and provides extensive customization for their clients with every aircraft ordered. The customization does not end there either. Cirrus Aircraft clients take delivery of the planes in Knoxville, TN and experience a training regimen that would be the envy of the best hospitality resorts, In fact, the time pilots spend learning their aircraft is like a resort stay. They are provided an Audi for driving during off times and access to a MasterCraft boat to cruise the river.  Rotarians may wonder why someone may wish to invest in a Cirrus SR22 or Vision Jet… Rotarians may also wonder what the allure of the sky is…   Answers may be found in the classic poem of WWII fighter pilot John Gillespie Magee Jr.

 

High Flight:

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air… .

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew — 
And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.