Cirrus Vision Jet SF50
The MSFS 2024 Cirrus Vision Jet: a single-engine, single-pilot personal jet with autothrottle, a whole-airplane parachute and Safe Return emergency autoland. It is free in every edition. Limits and procedures come from the Cirrus Airplane Flight Manual (AFM, P/N 31452-001) and Pilot's Information Manual (PIM, P/N 31453-001). That AFM covers earlier serials with Perspective Touch avionics and an FL280 ceiling. Where the G2 in the sim differs (FL310, more cabin pressure, Safe Return), the sheet uses the type certificate (FAA A00018CH, mirrored by EASA.IM.A.615) and notes the difference. Cruise and fuel numbers for the G2 come from Cirrus and pilot reports. Speeds are KIAS unless marked. Editions, the EFB, SimBrief, the checklist panel and key bindings are in sim basics; radio calls are in ATC comms; the piston sibling is the SR22T.
Profile
The sim's jet is FlightFX's "Vision Jet G2", shipped free in MSFS 2024 and maintained by Working Title in sim updates. Cirrus has since moved on to the G2+ (2021) and G3 (2026), so current Cirrus spec pages quote slightly higher numbers.
| Item | Value | Notes and source |
|---|---|---|
| role | single-engine very light jet, pressurized, retractable gear | certified for one pilot (AFM §2) |
| engine | Williams FJ33-5A turbofan, 1,846 lb takeoff thrust | TCDS; AFM §1; takeoff thrust limited to 5 min |
| seats | up to 7 (pilot and 6), minimum crew 1 | TCDS; AFM §2 |
| max takeoff weight | 6,000 lb; ramp 6,040, landing 5,550, zero fuel 4,900 | TCDS; AFM §2 |
| usable fuel | 296 US gal (2,001 lb) of Jet A, 148 per wing | AFM §2; max imbalance 15 gal |
| typical burn | about 60–64 gal/h (400–430 lb/h) at FL310 | Aviation Week and AOPA pilot reports (G2)1 |
| cruise | about 305 KTAS at FL310; about 311–313 KTAS max cruise lower down1 | AOPA (G2); FlightFX manual |
| ceiling | FL310 (31,000 ft) on the G2; FL280 on earlier serials | TCDS; AFM §2 gives FL280 for its serials2 |
| range | about 1,100–1,275 NM, depending on load and speed3 | AOPA (G2); Cirrus |
| pressurization | 7.1 psi differential: 8,000 ft cabin at FL310 | AOPA (G2); AFM §2 gives 6.4 psid for FL280 serials |
| airports | elevation up to 10,000 ft; tailwind up to 10 kt | AFM §2 |
| MSFS edition | Standard (so in every edition) | first-party aircraft list; Fly Away Simulation; MSFS Addons |
| avionics | Cirrus Perspective Touch+ (Garmin G3000-based), autothrottle, ESP, Safe Return | touch controllers under the displays |
KTAS is true airspeed. FL310 is flight level 310: 31,000 ft on the standard altimeter setting (29.92 inHg), used from 18,000 ft up. ESP (electronic stability and protection) nudges the controls back when you exceed bank, pitch or speed limits.
Speeds
Limits are from AFM §2 and match the TCDS. Takeoff and landing speeds are from AFM §4; the EFB's takeoff and landing performance (added in Sim Update 2) gives numbers for your weight.
| Speed | KIAS | Meaning and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vmo | 250 | maximum operating speed (red and white "barber pole" on the tape) |
| Mmo | 0.53 Mach | maximum operating Mach number; limits you before 250 KIAS up high |
| Vo | 150 | operating maneuvering speed: full control inputs only below this; also the descent limit in turbulence |
| Vfe 50% | 190 | max speed with flaps 50% (15°); no flaps above 17,500 ft |
| Vfe 100% | 150 | max speed with flaps 100% (39°) |
| Vlo extend / Vle | 210 | max speed to lower the gear, and with the gear down |
| Vlo retract | 150 | max speed to raise the gear |
| Vr | 85 | rotate, then 10° nose up (AFM §4)4 |
| Vx, flaps 50% | 91 | best angle of climb with gear up, flaps 50%; the go-around target (AFM §5) |
| flaps up | 115 | flaps 50% → UP after takeoff, clear of obstacles (AFM §4) |
| climb | about 190 falling to 140 | MCT climb schedule: about 175–190 KIAS low, 140 KIAS by FL280 (AFM §5 tables) |
| approach | 140 | flaps 50% for the approach (AFM §4) |
| Vref, flaps 100% | 71–89 | 71 at 4,000 lb up to 85 at 5,500 lb and 89 at 6,000 lb; fly Vref + 10 on final (AFM §4) |
| Vref, flaps 50% | 82–100 | same weights; 96 at 5,500 lb |
| stall, full flaps | 67 KCAS | at 6,000 lb, wings level, idle; 60 at 4,800 lb (AFM §5) |
| best glide | 114 / 104 / 93 | at 6,000 / 5,000 / 4,000 lb, gear and flaps up (AFM §3) |
| minimum maneuvering | Vref + 20 / + 15 / + 10 | flaps UP / 50% / 100%, for up to 40° of bank (AFM §2) |
| icing | 160 | minimum speed in icing conditions, clean (except climb, approach and landing) |
| CAPS | 135 KIAS and 145 KTAS | whichever is lower; pulled faster, the autopilot slows the jet first (AFM §3) |
Vref is the reference landing speed at the 50-ft point, 1.3 × the stall speed; the green donut on the airspeed tape shows it for your configuration. Flaps UP, Vref is 89–109 KIAS; with an iced airframe Vref rises by about 15–30 kt and you land with flaps 50% (AFM §4 table).
Cockpit & avionics
The drawings come from Cirrus manuals for earlier serials; the G2 in the sim keeps the general layout and adds Perspective Touch+, the autothrottle and Safe Return, so details may differ.
Image: Cirrus Aircraft, Vision SF50 Pilot's Information Manual (P/N 31453-001) fig. 3-2 (1 of 2), © Cirrus Aircraft, all rights reserved, reproduced for reference.
Image: Cirrus Aircraft, Vision SF50 Pilot's Information Manual (P/N 31453-001) fig. 3-2 (2 of 2), © Cirrus Aircraft, all rights reserved, reproduced for reference.
| Where | What's there |
|---|---|
| two 14-inch displays, landscape | PFD (flight instruments) on the left, MFD (map, engine and pressurization gauges) on the right |
| below the displays | GTC touch controllers (Garmin Touch Controller), three on these serials: PFD, MFD or radio controller; GTC 1 becomes the standby display (PIM ch. 3) |
| center, between the displays | DISPLAY BACKUP button, BARO knob and the landing gear handle (PIM ch. 3) |
| bolster, below the panel in front of GTC 1 | BAT, GEN, lights, oxygen, BLEED/FRESH, probe heat and ice protection rocker switches |
| left of the PFD | ENGINE knob (OFF, RUN) and ENGINE START/STOP button (PIM ch. 9) |
| center console | autopilot mode controller, thrust lever (IDLE, MCT detent, T/O stop) with the TO/GA switch on it, FUEL CONTROL selector (LEFT, AUTO, RIGHT), pitch trim wheel, flap selector (UP, 50%, 100%) |
| side sticks | 4-way trim switch and the red AP DISC button, which also interrupts ESP and the stick pusher (PIM ch. 17) |
| ceiling, between the front seats | CAPS T-handle and the emergency panel: fire controls, CABIN PRESSURE DUMP, EMER BATT, ELT, mask mic switches; on the G2, the red Safe Return button5 |
Autothrottle (A/T) modes on the real G2 and in the sim (the AFM for earlier serials has no autothrottle steps):
| Mode | Does |
|---|---|
| MAN | holds the speed you set with the speed control (thumbwheel or bug) |
| FMS | follows the flight plan's speed schedule for climb, cruise, descent and approach |
| MCT | throttle "snaps" to maximum continuous thrust so you don't over-temp the engine (FlightFX manual) |
| protection | A/T prevents over- and under-speeds together with ESP |
There are no speedbrakes: the gear (below 210 KIAS) and flaps (below 190 KIAS and 17,500 ft) are the only drag. Plan descents early.
Normal procedures
Condensed from AFM 31452-001 §4, in its order, with sim items marked "(reported)" or "(sim)". There is no official manual for the 2024 version: FlightFX points 2024 users to the Microsoft forums.
Preflight
Image: Cirrus Aircraft, Vision SF50 AFM (P/N 31452-001) fig. 2-19, © Cirrus Aircraft, all rights reserved, reproduced for reference.
| Item | Action / value |
|---|---|
| weight and balance | EFB: takeoff ≤ 6,000 lb, zero fuel ≤ 4,900 lb, landing ≤ 5,550 lb, baggage ≤ 300 lb |
| fuel | up to 2,001 lb; plan about 400–430 lb/h up high plus reserve; tanks within 15 gal of each other |
| flight plan | destination loaded: the avionics hand its field elevation to the pressurization controller (PIM ch. 14) |
| EFB performance | takeoff and landing data for the runway; note Vr and Vref |
| cabin (AFM) | gear handle DOWN, bolster switches and ENGINE knob OFF, FUEL CONTROL AUTO |
| power-up test | BAT 2 ON (PFD, GTC 1 and 2 light), then BAT 1 ON (MFD, GTC 3); oxygen, probe heat and lights checked |
| autopilot and fuel test | AP on, then AP DISC; FUEL CONTROL LEFT, RIGHT, back to AUTO, with no FUEL VALVE messages |
Before start
Image: Cirrus Aircraft, Vision SF50 Pilot's Information Manual (P/N 31453-001) fig. 3-1, © Cirrus Aircraft, all rights reserved, reproduced for reference.
| Item | Action / value |
|---|---|
| door | latched |
| parking brake | as required |
| BAT 1 and BAT 2 | ON; displays up |
| GEN 1 and GEN 2 | ON |
| FADEC | active channel shown under the % thrust gauge |
| CAS | review the crew alerting messages (CAS: the white, amber and red text list) |
Engine start
Image: Cirrus Aircraft, Vision SF50 Pilot's Information Manual (P/N 31453-001) fig. 9-3, © Cirrus Aircraft, all rights reserved, reproduced for reference.
| Item | Action / value |
|---|---|
| strobe lights | ON |
| thrust lever | IDLE; brakes held |
| ENGINE knob | RUN; the electric fuel pump runs (FUEL PUMP ON message) |
| ENGINE START/STOP button | press; the FADEC (full-authority digital engine control) runs the start |
| abort if | ITT past red line, no N1 by 25% N2, no light-off within 8 s, or low oil pressure: knob OFF, then hold the button 15–30 s |
| engine | watch N1, N2 and ITT (turbine temperature) rise and settle; EIS normal |
| after start | ECS set, avionics initialized, CAPS pin removed and stowed, passengers briefed |
| BLEED switch | BLEED, once the batteries have been on 2 min or more |
Before taxi / taxi
Image: Cirrus Aircraft, Vision SF50 Pilot's Information Manual (P/N 31453-001) fig. 5-2, © Cirrus Aircraft, all rights reserved, reproduced for reference.
| Item | Action / value |
|---|---|
| radios, ATIS, clearance | set and obtained; altimeter and transponder set |
| altitude preselect, heading | first cleared altitude; heading bug synced to the runway |
| flight controls, trim | free and correct; trim checked |
| flaps | 50% |
| TO/GA | press the switch on the thrust lever: the flight director shows 10° nose up |
| emergency bus check | GEN 1, GEN 2 and BAT 2 OFF, emergency bus ≥ 23.3 V, then all ON again |
| taxi | parking brake off, brakes checked, idle thrust is plenty |
Before takeoff
Image: Cirrus Aircraft, Vision SF50 AFM (P/N 31452-001) fig. 2-17, © Cirrus Aircraft, all rights reserved, reproduced for reference.
| Item | Action / value |
|---|---|
| briefing | departure briefed; Vr and flaps 50% confirmed |
| probe heat | ON (5 min on the ground above 41 °F) |
| ice protection | ENGINE as required, WING/STAB OFF |
| trim | pointer in the green takeoff band (5.5° nose up); outside it, TAKEOFF PITCH TRIM warns |
| flaps | 50% |
| engine | oil above 50 °F; a warm engine idles at least 2 min before takeoff |
| autothrottle | armed (G2 and sim; not in the AFM for earlier serials) |
| transponder, lights | ALT; landing, strobe, nav ON |
Takeoff
Image: Cirrus Aircraft, Vision SF50 Pilot's Information Manual (P/N 31453-001) fig. 9-2, © Cirrus Aircraft, all rights reserved, reproduced for reference.
| Item | Action / value |
|---|---|
| thrust lever | T/O with the brakes held; N1 on the blue "T" bug, engine gauges normal, then release |
| rotate | at 85 KIAS to 10° nose up |
| gear | UP with a positive rate of climb, below 150 KIAS |
| flaps | UP at 115 KIAS, clear of obstacles |
| airspeed | per the climb tables (see Speeds) |
| autopilot | ON no lower than 400 ft AGL (AFM minimum use height) |
Climb
| Item | Action / value |
|---|---|
| thrust lever | MCT: takeoff thrust is limited to 5 min, and Cirrus asks for MCT within 2 min if practical |
| mode | FLC or VNV, with the A/T in FMS (sim) |
| climb time | about 21 min, 32 gal and 68 NM to FL280 at 6,000 lb, ISA (AFM §5); about 28 min to FL310 heavy on a hot day (Aviation Week, G2) |
| engine, cabin | monitor; pressurization is automatic, watch the cabin altitude on the MFD |
| ice protection | as required |
| altimeter | set standard (29.92) passing 18,000 ft |
Cruise
| Item | Action / value |
|---|---|
| level | FL280–FL310 for best range |
| thrust, ice protection | as required |
| speed | about 305 KTAS at FL310 on 60–64 gal/h; Mmo 0.53 is the limit up high |
| cabin | about 8,000 ft at FL310 |
| EIS and fuel | monitor; compare FMS fuel at destination with your reserve |
Descent
| Item | Action / value |
|---|---|
| plan | start early: no speedbrakes; the FMS top of descent plus the 3-to-1 rule |
| speed | AFM descent tables use Mach 0.51 / 245 KIAS; 250 or less below 10,000 ft (ATC speed rule) |
| mode | VNV with the A/T in FMS, or FLC with power back (sim) |
| landing field elevation | checked (it drives the cabin schedule) |
| extra drag | gear down below 210 KIAS if you are high |
| altimeter | local setting at 18,000 ft |
| seats, belts, brake pressure | secured; checked |
Approach
| Item | Action / value |
|---|---|
| briefing | approach loaded, activated and briefed; APR armed; minimums set |
| seats | all upright |
| ice protection, lights | as required |
| flaps | 50% |
| airspeed | 140 KIAS |
| pattern | Cirrus recommends 1,500 ft AGL for the traffic pattern (FAA FSB report) |
Before landing
Image: Cirrus Aircraft, Vision SF50 Pilot's Information Manual (P/N 31453-001) fig. 3-3, © Cirrus Aircraft, all rights reserved, reproduced for reference.
| Item | Action / value |
|---|---|
| landing gear | DOWN and locked (three green) |
| flaps | as required |
| cabin differential | about 0 psi |
| windshield ice protection | OFF (the fluid blocks the view) |
| autopilot | OFF |
| airspeed | Vref to Vref + 10 |
Landing
| Item | Action / value |
|---|---|
| flaps | 100%; 50% if the airframe is iced or the crosswind is over 15 kt |
| final | Vref + 10; add half the gust factor in gusts, 5 kt more in a crosswind |
| over the threshold | Vref, thrust lever as required; don't prolong the flare |
| touchdown | mains first, then brakes |
Go-around
| Item | Action / value |
|---|---|
| thrust lever | T/O |
| TO/GA switch | press |
| pitch | 7° nose up |
| flaps | 50% |
| gear | UP with a positive rate of climb |
| airspeed | Vx (91 KIAS); flaps UP at 115 KIAS clear of obstacles, then a normal climb |
After landing
| Item | Action / value |
|---|---|
| flaps | UP |
| ice protection | WING/STAB OFF, ENGINE as required, probe heat OFF |
| lights, transponder | taxi light; transponder STBY |
| A/T | disarmed (sim) |
| brakes | checked |
Shutdown
| Item | Action / value |
|---|---|
| cool-down | 2 min at ground idle first |
| thrust lever | IDLE |
| ENGINE IPS, BLEED, oxygen, lights | OFF, FRESH, OFF, OFF |
| GEN 1 and GEN 2 | OFF |
| ENGINE knob | OFF, then press the ENGINE START/STOP button; wait for N2 below 24% |
| CAPS pin | replaced |
| BAT 1 and BAT 2 | OFF; parking brake as required |
Flying it in the sim
A typical IFR flight. Load the plan as in sim basics; calls are in IFR departure and IFR en route and arrival.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. plan | EFB or SimBrief plan sent to the avionics; check it on the GTC Flight Plan page |
| 2. performance | EFB takeoff data for Vr; GTC PERF for weights if shown |
| 3. departure | GTC PROC: departure; altitude preselect set; heading synced; TO/GA pressed |
| 4. takeoff | flaps 50%, trim in the green band, A/T armed, thrust T/O, rotate at 85, gear up, flaps up at 115 |
| 5. climb | AP on above 400 ft; FLC or VNV; A/T FMS; MCT |
| 6. cruise | FL280–FL310; A/T holds the FMS or manual speed |
| 7. descent | arrival and approach loaded early; preselect the lower altitude; VNV |
| 8. approach | 140 KIAS and flaps 50%; APR; gear down, then flaps 100% and Vref + 10 on final |
| 9. landing | AP off before landing; Vref at the threshold |
Autopilot modes:
| Mode | Does |
|---|---|
| HDG | follows the heading bug |
| NAV | follows the FMS or VOR/LOC course |
| APR | arms the approach: ILS, or GPS lateral and vertical guidance |
| ALT | holds altitude |
| VS | holds a vertical speed |
| FLC | flight level change: holds an airspeed by pitch while the A/T sets power |
| VNV | follows the FMS vertical path and altitude constraints (VNAV) |
| LVL | levels the wings and stops any climb or descent: the button passengers are briefed on (AFM §10) |
Autopilot limits (AFM §2):
| Limit | Value |
|---|---|
| minimum speed | 105 KIAS clean, 95 with flaps 50%, 85 with flaps 100% |
| maximum speed | 250 KIAS / Mach 0.53 clean, 210 gear down, 190 flaps 50%, 150 flaps 100% |
| minimum use height | 400 ft AGL after takeoff; 1,000 ft en route; 200 ft or DA on a GS or GP approach; 400 ft or MDA otherwise |
| overspeed protection | above 253 KIAS or Mach 0.54 the autopilot pitches up (MAXSPD on the PFD) (PIM ch. 17) |
Flight-level change: set the new level, press FLC, and the A/T moves the throttle to climb or descent power. For a descent, the rule of thumb is 3 NM per 1,000 ft: FL310 to 3,000 ft needs about 84 NM.
Emergencies
Condensed from AFM 31452-001 §3 (emergency) and §10 (CAPS guidance). The AFM marks memory items; the red CAS messages each have their own checklist there.
Image: Cirrus Aircraft, Vision SF50 Pilot's Information Manual (P/N 31453-001) fig. 9-4, © Cirrus Aircraft, all rights reserved, reproduced for reference.
| Emergency | What to do |
|---|---|
| rejected takeoff | maximum braking without skidding, thrust IDLE; don't set the parking brake; brakes need a cool-down |
| engine problem below Vr | as above, plus ENGINE knob OFF and press the button; on fire, the ground fire drill below |
| engine failure after takeoff, low | 100 KIAS, gear and flaps as required, land straight ahead turning only to miss obstacles; if time, knob OFF, CABIN PRESSURE DUMP, GENs and BATs OFF |
| engine failure below 600 ft AGL | land straight ahead if practicable; if not, pull CAPS at once (AFM §10) |
| engine failure 600–2,000 ft AGL | pull CAPS immediately (AFM §10) |
| engine failure above 2,000 ft AGL | pitch for 120–200 KIAS, turn toward a landing site, masks on above 15,000 ft; air start if the engine looks safe; by 1,000 ft AGL, either the landing is assured or you pull CAPS |
| air start | 120–200 KIAS below 18,000 ft; thrust IDLE, GENs OFF, fuel to the other tank; knob OFF and press the button; wait for N2 below 24% (16% is better); knob RUN, press the button; GENs ON if it runs |
| engine fire in flight | thrust IDLE, pitch for about 120 KIAS, wait 15 s; still on: lift the guard and toggle ENGINE FIRE ACKNOWLEDGE, push one PUSH TO DISCHARGE, mask 100%, knob OFF and press the button, GENs OFF, land without power or pull CAPS |
| fire warning goes out by itself | probably a bleed leak: least thrust needed, land as soon as possible, BLEED to FRESH |
| engine fire on the ground | ENGINE FIRE ACKNOWLEDGE toggled, a PUSH TO DISCHARGE button, knob OFF and press the button, evacuate |
| cabin altitude high | masks 100%, BLEED verified, mic to MASK MIC, emergency descent as needed, check passenger oxygen, squawk 7700 |
| emergency descent | AP DISC, thrust IDLE, pitch about 20° nose down, accelerate up to 250 KIAS / Mach 0.53 (150 in turbulence) |
| both generators out (EMER BUS VOLTS) | GENs OFF, interior lights OFF, BATs ON, EMER BATT ON, land as soon as possible; about 60 min of battery; no autopilot, MFD or GTC 3, gear by alternate extension |
| stall warning or stick pusher | lower the angle of attack, thrust T/O; don't fight the pusher |
| gear won't come down | below 210 KIAS: LANDING GEAR HYD breaker (B4) out, handle DOWN, pull the alternate extension handle to its stop, check three green |
For the radio side (Mayday, 7700, lost comms), see emergencies and lost comms.
Gliding (AFM §3): best glide is 114 KIAS at 6,000 lb, 104 at 5,000 lb and 93 at 4,000 lb (the clean green donut), and the glide ratio is about 14.7 to 1, roughly 2.4 NM per 1,000 ft. For a power-off landing, fly high key at 3,000 ft AGL (115–130 KIAS), low key at 1,500 ft (120), base at 1,000 ft (120). Keep at least 110 KIAS until short final, and lower the gear and flaps only once the landing is assured.
CAPS
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| what | Cirrus Airframe Parachute System: a rocket pulls a parachute out of the nose and the jet descends under it |
| handle | the CAPS T-handle in the ceiling console, next to the emergency panel (PIM fig. 3-2) |
| max speed | below 135 KIAS and 145 KTAS, whichever is lower (higher up, true airspeed is the tighter limit) |
| pulled fast | the autopilot's CAPS mode levels the wings, pitches up and idles the engine to slow down: about 15–24 s from 250 KIAS; it deploys after about 30 s whatever the speed. Don't press AP DISC (AFM §3) |
| no CAPS autopilot | with a CAPS AUTOPILOT INOP message, slow down yourself and set IDLE before you pull |
| altitude | no minimum set; horizontal deployments lost under 600 ft; above 1,000 ft AGL is advisable (AFM §10) |
| descent | about 1,560 fpm under the canopy; touchdown is like a drop from about 10.5 ft (AFM §10) |
| after the pull | masks 100% above 15,000 ft; ENGINE FIRE ACKNOWLEDGE toggled (shuts off the fuel); ELT on; gear UP; after radio calls, BAT and GEN OFF below 15,000 ft; loose items secured, belts tight, brace; out upwind once stopped |
| gear | leave it UP: a CAPS landing with the gear down may puncture a fuel tank (AFM §10) |
| in the sim | the handle works and deploys a canopy in community videos (reported) |
Safe Return (emergency autoland)
Safe Return is Cirrus's name for Garmin Emergency Autoland: the airplane lands itself when the pilot can't. It is a G2 feature, so the AFM for earlier serials doesn't cover it; the notes below are from Cirrus, AOPA and the FAA FSB report.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| trigger | the red Safe Return button in the ceiling; it can also start automatically after emergency descent mode if the pilot stays unresponsive |
| what it does | picks an airport (runway length and width, fuel, crosswind, terrain, weather), broadcasts on the tuned frequency and 121.5 MHz, flies the approach, lowers gear and flaps, lands, brakes to a stop |
| cancel | press AP on the mode controller, or the AP disconnect button |
| in the sim | modeled; Sim Update 6 improved its destination choice, routing, gear, ice protection and braking |
| sim history | before SU6 it often couldn't find an airport (reported) |
Emergency descent mode
EDM (emergency descent mode) dives the jet to breathable air after a loss of cabin pressure (PIM ch. 17). It works only with the autopilot already on. It starts when you are at or above 14,900 ft, the CABIN ALTITUDE HIGH warning has been on for 15 s, and no manual cabin dump is in progress. The red AUTO DESCENT warning sounds and EDM shows above the airspeed tape. The autopilot sets 14,000 ft and a target 10 kt below the speed limit, idles the thrust, then levels at 14,000 ft and sets about 83% N1. Only AP DISC cancels it, and the CABIN PRESSURE DUMP button disables it. On the G2, Safe Return follows if the pilot still doesn't respond (FSB report). Whether the sim models EDM is not verified: don't rely on it.
Sim quirks
Official items come from Microsoft's release notes; the rest are forum reports, marked "(reported)".
| Quirk | Status |
|---|---|
| autothrottle oscillated around the target speed | retuned in Sim Update 3 (20 August 2025) |
| FADEC entered start modes after fuel starvation | fixed in SU3 |
| electric fuel pump latched on spuriously | less sensitive since SU3; on the real jet, FUEL CONTROL to LEFT or RIGHT and back to AUTO clears the latch (PIM ch. 10) |
| no EFB takeoff and landing performance | added in SU2 (15 May 2025) |
| EFB holding speed schedule | added in SU5 (30 April 2026) |
| no EFB tablet in the cockpit | added in SU6 (13 August 2026) |
| Safe Return poor at choosing airports | improved in SU6 |
| autopilot drops out at about 400 ft on approach with no aural warning | (reported); the AFM's minimum use height is 400 ft only for non-precision modes (200 ft or DA on GS or GP), and it has you turn the AP off before landing anyway |
| onboard checklist and preflight fire and stall tests missing | (reported) |
| fewer systems than FlightFX's MSFS 2020 payware version | (reported); FlightFX doesn't support the 2024 default |
| no official 2024 manual | (reported); the FlightFX 2020 manual is the closest |
Recipes
Cold and dark to takeoff
From a parking spot, engine off.
Gear handle DOWN, FUEL CONTROL AUTO, door latched
BAT 1 + BAT 2 ON, GEN 1 + GEN 2 ON
EFB: weights, fuel, plan -> avionics; note Vr
Strobes ON, thrust IDLE, brakes held
ENGINE knob RUN, press ENGINE START/STOP
Watch N1/N2/ITT settle; CAS clean
CAPS pin out; BLEED switch to BLEED
Altitude preselect, heading sync, flaps 50%
Trim in the green band; TO/GA (FD 10 deg)
Taxi; on the runway: lights, transponder ALT
Arm A/T, thrust T/O, rotate 85, pitch 10 deg
Gear up, flaps up at 115, MCT, AP on above 400 ftQuick IFR setup
For a plan already built in the EFB.
EFB -> send to avionics; GTC Flight Plan: check it
GTC PROC: departure; preselect first altitude
Takeoff with TOGA + A/T; AP on, NAV + FLC (A/T FMS)
Cruise FL280-FL310
40+ NM before the 3-to-1 point: arrival + approach
Preselect lower altitude, VNV
140 KIAS + flaps 50% for the approach; APR
Gear down, flaps 100%, Vref + 10; AP off to landAutoland demo (Safe Return)
See the emergency autoland land the jet for you. Start in cruise with the autopilot on.
Cruise at FL200 or higher, AP on
Press the red Safe Return button in the ceiling
Watch the course swing toward the chosen airport
Hands off: gear, flaps, landing and braking are automatic
To cancel at any time: press AP or the AP disconnectEngine-out decision drill
Practice the CAPS altitude rules from AFM §10. Fail the engine in the sim's failures menu.
Below 600 ft AGL -> land ahead; CAPS if you can't
600-2,000 ft AGL -> pull CAPS now
Above 2,000 ft -> 120-200 KIAS, air start below
18,000 ft, glide to a runway
By 1,000 ft AGL -> landing assured, or CAPS
CAPS: under 135 KIAS/145 KTAS, IDLE, gear UPEarly descent without speedbrakes
When ATC keeps you high.
Thrust IDLE (A/T off, or MAN at a low speed)
Below 210 KIAS: gear DOWN for drag
Below 190 KIAS and 17,500 ft: flaps 50%
Ask ATC for lower early; no spoilers to save youReferences
- Cirrus Aircraft, FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual for the Cirrus Vision SF50, aircraft serials with Cirrus Perspective Touch avionics and FL280 maximum operating altitude, P/N 31452-001, Reissue A with Revision A1 (4 February 2022) and temporary revisions TAFM 22-01, 22-03, 23-02 and 23-03: limitations, emergency and normal procedures, performance tables, CAPS guidance
- Cirrus Aircraft, Pilot's Information Manual for the Cirrus Vision SF50, aircraft serials SF50-0005 and subsequent, P/N 31453-001, Revision 5 (22 January 2026): cockpit layout, systems, EDM, CAPS autopilot mode; source of most figures
- EASA TCDS IM.A.615, Cirrus SF50, Issue 6 (1 June 2026) (opens in a new tab): speed limits, weights, thrust, altitudes, Safe Return approval; it cites FAA TCDS A00018CH
- FAA TCDS database (A00018CH) (opens in a new tab): the primary type certificate
- FAA Flight Standardization Board report, SF50, Rev 4 draft (opens in a new tab): FL280 vs FL310 serials, CAPS altitude strategy, EAL and EDM, pattern altitude
- Cirrus Aircraft: Vision Jet (opens in a new tab): current (G3) specifications, fuel, avionics
- Cirrus Aircraft: Vision Jet Safe Return (opens in a new tab): what the autoland does
- AOPA: Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet G2 (opens in a new tab): FL310, cruise, fuel flow, pressurization, autothrottle, Vr
- AOPA: Cirrus defines the personal jet (2017) (opens in a new tab): CAPS at 135 KIAS with autopilot slowing, Vmo and Mmo, Vref
- AOPA: Hands off (Garmin Autoland, 2020) (opens in a new tab): activation, airport choice, radio calls, cancel
- Aviation Week: Cirrus Vision Jet pilot report (opens in a new tab): takeoff, flap, approach and Vref speeds
- Twin & Turbine: training for the SF50 type rating (opens in a new tab): CAPS sequence and descent rate
- FLYER: Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet (opens in a new tab): cockpit layout, CAPS handle, CAPS autopilot mode
- FlightFX: SF50 Vision Jet G2 (opens in a new tab): the developer's model and features
- Microsoft: Sim Update 6 release notes (opens in a new tab), SU5 (opens in a new tab), SU3 (opens in a new tab), SU2 (opens in a new tab): official Vision Jet fixes
- MSFS forums: Vision Jet feedback (opens in a new tab), 2024 manual question (opens in a new tab), autopilot off at 400 ft (opens in a new tab): reported quirks and flows
- Wikipedia: Cirrus Vision SF50 (opens in a new tab): generation history, G2 specifications
Footnotes
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AOPA's G2 report gives 305 KTAS at FL310 on 64 gal/h and 313 KTAS at FL270 on 76 gal/h; FlightFX's G2 manual gives 311 KTAS max cruise; Cirrus now lists 317 KTAS for the G3. Aviation Week's flight saw 60 gal/h at FL310. The AFM for FL280 serials gives 304 KTAS on 69 gal/h at FL280, ISA, 6,000 lb and maximum continuous thrust, or 232 KTAS on 47 gal/h at maximum-range cruise (AFM §5). ↩ ↩2
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The AFM used here (P/N 31452-001) is for serials limited to FL280 with a 6.4 psid cabin. The TCDS lists FL310 for serial 0008, 0089, 0094 and on, and the G2 raised the cabin differential to 7.1 psi. This sheet keeps the G2 values the sim models; the AFM's speed and weight limits match the TCDS. ↩
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AOPA gives about 1,100–1,275 NM for the G2; Wikipedia says over 1,200 NM; Cirrus lists 1,275 NM max range for the current jet. ↩
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The AFM gives a single Vr of 85 KIAS. Aviation Week rotated at 85 KIAS at 5,958 lb; AOPA quotes Vr 90 and Vref 85 for the G2. Use the EFB numbers for your weight in the sim. ↩
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AOPA (2020) describes the Safe Return button as a red recessed button in the cabin ceiling reachable from the front seats; Cirrus's Safe Return page places it above the second-row seats. ↩