A Cirrus Vision jet costs around $2 million, making it the most affordable new private jet. You can buy a propeller plane for less, but if you want a turbine engine, this is your starter. It’s smaller than Gulfstreams most of us imagine — in the Vision, the pilot and passengers share the same space. That’s because Cirrus engineers designed it for owners who also want to be the pilot, no flight crew required.
But that setup presents a concern for passengers. Even if you’re traveling with an Air Force alum, if only one person is capable of landing the thing, what do you do if he or she goes unconscious, or has a heart attack? Live out Airplane!, with air traffic control guiding you, the inexperienced passenger, through a terrifying landing? Nah. You hit a button on the ceiling and do breathing exercises while the plane lands itself.
Some background on the aircraft: the Vision’s single engine is on the roof. Having one engine instead of two helps keep the price low. The tail is a V so that exhaust can pass through. The windows are noticeably bigger than on most jets because the body is made of strong, light carbon fiber—the 787 has bigger windows for the same reason. The seats are plush, and there are USB chargers throughout the cabin. The sound is deafening until you but on the Bose noise-canceling headsets. Then, it’s comfy for the up to 7 people who can sit inside.
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