FYI, Avweb has just posted a review of the SR22. Here it is:
http://www.avweb.com/articles/cirrussr22/
Haven’t looked at it yet, but will try to read it sometime today!
Steve
Great article! While it sounds like he works for the company, his comments mimic my reaction to the prepurchase ride I had after sun-n-fun. Finally picking mine up 6/25.
It was a good review, even though a few small inaccuracies crept in.
Does anyone start their SR22 with mixture at idle cutoff? I always crank it at full rich. Maybe the procedure is different with the new sniffle tubes.
Engine TBO is 2,000 hours, not 1,700 hours. Cirrus has published the incorrect figure in the past.
He also implies that the Lancair Columbia has a side yoke. Nope. it’s got a side stick.
If I’m not mistaken, the standard full-fuel payload is 664 pounds, not 646 pounds. I think the error came about by adding the total fuel (84 gallons) instead of just the usable fuel (81 gallons), to the empty weight. I believe the empty weight already includes the three gallons of unusable fuel.
He also got the Sandel HSI model number wrong: it’s 3308, not 8803.
On parachute deployment, he talks about the landing gear absorbing the impact first, then the seats “crushing”. He doesn’t mention the fuselage absorbing some of the force, which if I recall is an important part of the design.
He also perpetuates the myth about having to learn to slow the airplane down early. I did an experiment with my airplane at my home field, which has a 5,000 foot runway. I started the 45 degree downwind entry at pattern atltitude, with an indicated airspeed of 170 knots. I pulled the throttle back to idle and trimmed it to hold altitude. By the time I was abeam the numbers, I was under 119 knots, 50% flaps deployment speed.
The only problem with slowing down is in trying to descend and slow down simultaneously.
All of this is nitpicking. I enjoyed the article and thought is was a pretty fair assessment of the SR22 experience.
-Mike
Good article, mirrors my 2-days experience in a 22. Fantastic aiplane.
In reply to:
Does anyone start their SR22 with mixture at idle cutoff?
Idle-cutoff starting is a typical Lycoming fuel-injected engine procedure (to avoid flooding). It’s not necessary for the Continentals, though it probably makes little difference to starting.
Eh? Mixture ICO, full throttle was what I was shown for a hot start and works each time, (boost pump on) I just assumed that they climbed into an aircraft that had already flown that day!
The POH has the mixture full rich for all starts. I assume with the new manifold drains there is a greater chance of flooding on a hot start, so mixture closed probably doesn’t hurt, but I wouldn’t have thought it necessary (the POH says no priming required for hot starts).
Clyde: I have the manifold drains installed. I have never seen a condition that appeared to be flooded. In fact, since the manifold drains have been installed it usually starts on the first attempt. It still takes a prime period, but I have shortened it since the manifold drains have been installed. Once, while hot I tried to start, without success, with the throttle full closed. If it’s hot, it needs 1/4" throttle to get the mixture just right. It might start hot without prime, but I have still used about 30 seconds. I think what made it fail to start was not the prime but the throttle position. It’s not the same as when it’s cold. So far as the mixture is concerned, the POH specifies that it should be full rich. Whoever wrote the article didn’t get it exactly right.
Okay, am I alone in the world in doing the following:
Cold Start:
Bat On, Fuel On, Mixture Rich, Throttle Full, Prime 6 Pulses, Boost On
Throttle 1/4
Engage Starter,
When Running, Set 1200, Alt1 on Alt2 on, Boost Off checks etc.
Warm Start (any same day flight)
Bat On, Fuel On, Boost On
Mixture ICO, Throttle Full
Engage Starter,
When running, Mixture Rich/ Throttle Close (one quick movement)
Alt1 On, Alt2 on, Boost Off, checks etc
This is very reliable for me, always starts, but would be very interested in the pros and cons of other techniques.
Ian