If you’ve ever flown previous generation SR22s, you’re familiar with the challenges of slowing the aircraft to the 119-knot initial flap extension speed. But it also brought about some much needed operational benefits, including new airframe and flap testing that ultimately improved wing flap operating speeds. Increasing the gross weight a full 200 pounds required serious amounts of challenging, drawing-board engineering. To be sure, this overall utility is unmatched by few if any other four-place singles. The rear baggage area can accommodate 130 pounds of whatever you can stuff in. With the 40 portion of the rear seat folded down, we loaded a few full-size golf bags, luggage, flight bags and some other space and weight-eating gear with ease. The weight increase also allows you to load more of your stuff-or another small passenger-into the previously-introduced 60/40 rear seat. The new weight increase means you can load a SR22T commonly equipped with air conditioning, certified de-ice package, full fuel (92 gallons usable) and three 180-pound occupants. Part of the aircraft’s utility is courtesy of a new 3600-pound gross weight, up from a previous 3400 pounds. We recently visited Cirrus headquarters in Duluth, Minnesota, plucked a new SR22T G5 turbo model from the flight line and hauled it halfway across the country-a mission the aircraft easily delivers with comfort, efficiency and utility.
![interior cockpit interior cirrus sr22 interior cockpit interior cirrus sr22](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/ATG9JC/cockpit-of-a-sr22-ATG9JC.jpg)
As we go to press, production order slots for the new SR22 G5 are sold out well into the fall of this year-encouraging in an otherwise declining aircraft sales environment. Whether it’s the new paint and interior styling options, more advanced avionics that come standard, or the bold new gross weight increase, Cirrus’ dedication to improving and advancing the product line proves why the SR22 has consistently outsold every other certified piston single. Instead, it’s a compilation of advanced features and improvements that Cirrus has added to the aircraft over the past few years. The fifth-generation Cirrus SR22 isn’t an entirely fresh model.