417 Cirrus SR22, Vision Jet and SR20 Design with Mike VanStaagen
Aviation News Talk – Pilot Stories, Safety Tips & General Aviation News
Glass Cockpit Publishing
4.8 • 730 Ratings
🗓️ 11 March 2026
⏱️ 66 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Max talks with Mike VanStaagen about the design philosophy behind the Cirrus SR20, SR22, and SF50 Vision Jet, and how Cirrus rethought what pilots and passengers should experience inside an airplane. Mike explains how his architectural mindset helped him bring together competing ideas at Cirrus and turn them into aircraft that felt modern, spacious, intuitive, and comfortable.
They discuss why Cirrus focused so heavily on easier entry and exit, better visibility on the ground and in flight, and a roomier cabin than traditional GA airplanes. Mike describes how ideas borrowed from the auto industry shaped the Cirrus cockpit, from the pilot-centered layout to the center console and cleaner instrument panel design. He also shares the story of how a tiny clay model helped convince Cirrus leadership to move away from a conventional flat panel toward the now-familiar Cirrus interior.
The conversation then turns to the Vision Jet, including the secret garage project where the concept first took shape, why the aircraft ended up with a distinctive V-tail, and how hours spent inside an early mockup led to key design breakthroughs. This is a fascinating look at how thoughtful design changed modern personal aviation.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Regardless of what kind of airplane you fly, you probably like good design. |
| 0:06.3 | I know I do. |
| 0:07.4 | Whether it's the outside pleasing lines that make an aircraft go fast or the interior design |
| 0:12.3 | that makes it easier and more comfortable to fly, design is important. |
| 0:17.1 | And I've said here on this show many times that the Vision Jet is my favorite aircraft, |
| 0:21.7 | and it's primarily because of its great design, both inside and out. |
| 0:25.7 | So I was thrilled a year and a half ago to meet the person responsible for much of the |
| 0:30.8 | overall design of Sirius Aircraft, and today we have them on the show. |
| 0:34.9 | Mike Van Stoggin will talk about the thinking behind the SR 20, SR22, and |
| 0:39.1 | Vision Jet, and why great aircraft design is about far more than just the performance numbers. |
| 0:44.8 | Stick around and hear stories about the process of designing Cirrus aircraft. Hello again, |
| 0:49.7 | and welcome to Aviation News Talk where we talk in General Avi aviation. My name is Max Truscott. I've |
| 0:54.3 | been flying for 50 years. I'm the author of several books in the 2008 National Flight Instructor |
| 0:58.6 | of the Year, and my mission is to help you become the safest possible pilot. Last week in |
| 1:04.4 | episode 416, we talked with Jason Blair about how to build a professional pilot career path |
| 1:09.7 | with fewer delays, mistakes, |
| 1:12.0 | and also having a better chance of getting hired. So if you didn't hear that episode, |
| 1:15.7 | you may want to check it out at AviationNewstalk.com slash 416. And if you're new to this show, |
| 1:21.4 | welcome, glad you found us. Now, if you would in whatever app you're using, touch either the |
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| 1:33.4 | And see if you know any of these people who've recently signed up to support the show via Patreon. |
| 1:37.6 | And I greatly appreciate these donations as there's smaller reoccurring donations, much like your monthly subscription to Netflix |
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