Dreams sky-high on Cirrus tour

• Explaining fuselages

Matt Nichols, senior supplier business agent, describes how fuselages are made to a group of pilots and aviation enthusiasts during a tour of the Cirrus Aircraft facility Monday evening. The Inside Cirrus Event showcased its airplanes and introduced some of the planes’ new features to potential owners. (Bob King / rking@duluthnews.com)
• Cleaning the windshield

Peter Carroll, flight instructor, cleans the windshield of a Cirrus SR22T after a flight Monday evening. (Bob King / rking@duluthnews.com)

Talk about it

Cirrus Aircraft hosts open houses across North America year-round, but on Monday evening the company had one at home in Duluth.

It was a chance for executives and employees to talk with guests about the new 2012 Cirrus models and provide a behind-the-scenes look at aircraft production.

Dozens of people filtered into a hangar at the Cirrus facility near the Duluth International Airport for food, drink and conversation. Some were Cirrus owners, while others were plane enthusiasts and what Cirrus hopes will be future customers.

There were several tours during the three-hour reception providing a look at the composite plane process.

Cirrus is touting the accolades it has received for its SR22 propeller planes and is gearing up for production of the Vision SF50 personal jet.

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