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How to Buy a Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet: Buyer's Guide
A single-engine, single-pilot personal jet with a whole-airframe parachute, best for owner-pilots moving up from high-performance pistons or turboprops.
Updated October 2026 · Market data from 14 live fyiAero listings, the FAA registry and NTSB records
Overview
The Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet is the first certified single-engine personal jet built in real numbers. It has one Williams FJ33 turbofan mounted on top of the fuselage, a V-tail, a composite airframe, and the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). Cirrus designed it for owners who fly themselves. The cockpit is a Garmin-based Perspective Touch suite, the cabin is wide and airy for its size, and the handling is meant to feel familiar to a pilot coming out of an SR22. FAA records show 749 SF50s on the U.S. registry, so this is a real fleet with established maintenance support, not a niche experiment.
The used market is small and tight. fyiAero listings currently show 14 Vision Jets for sale, asking from $1,650,000 to $3,729,000, with a median of $2,999,900. Listed model years run from 2019 to 2025, so nearly everything you will find is a G2 or G2+. The median listed airframe has 755 hours, which means most of these jets have been flown like personal airplanes rather than worked hard.
Spec-sheet numbers matter less here than program status, avionics and software level, and generation. Two jets of the same year can be several hundred thousand dollars apart once you account for engine and maintenance program enrollment, CAPS service timing, damage history, and options.
Who it's for. The Vision Jet suits an owner-pilot who regularly flies trips of roughly 300 to 1,000 nautical miles with one to three passengers and wants jet speed and altitude without a two-pilot crew or a two-engine budget. Most buyers step up from an SR22T, a Piper M-class, or a single-engine turboprop. You will need an SF50 type rating, and the factory training pipeline is well developed. Insurance is the real gatekeeper. Underwriters look closely at total time, turbine and jet time, recent experience, and whether you came through Cirrus-approved training. Low-time or first-jet pilots should expect to fly with a mentor pilot for some period, pay a higher premium, and do recurrent training every year. Get insurance quotes before you sign a purchase agreement, not after.
Generations and variants
| Version | Years | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| SF50 G1 | 2016-2018 | These were the original production jets, with a lower certified ceiling and without the autothrottle and later performance improvements. None appear in current fyiAero listings. When they do trade, they sit at the bottom of the market because they lack the G2 features buyers expect. |
| SF50 G2 | 2019-2021 | The G2 raised the ceiling into the low FL300s, which improved true airspeed, fuel economy, and range. It also added autothrottle and updated avionics and cabin features. Safe Return emergency autoland arrived during this generation, so confirm whether a specific G2 has it, because it noticeably affects price. |
| SF50 G2+ | 2022-2025 | The G2+ brought better takeoff performance, especially at hot and high airports, along with further avionics and connectivity refinements. G2+ jets are most of what is listed for sale and bring the strongest prices, with 2024 and 2025 examples averaging well above $3.3 million on fyiAero listings. |
What a Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet costs to buy
12 priced listings on fyiAero right now ask between $1,650,000 and $3,729,000, with a median of $2,999,900 and a median of 755 hours total time. Against fyiEstimate, 5 are priced below estimate, 1 within range and 5 above.
- Know where the center of the market is. The median fyiAero asking price is $2,999,900. The low end ($1,650,000) and high end ($3,729,000) usually reflect generation, hours, program status, or history, so find out which of those explains any outlier.
- Model year does not tell the whole story. On fyiAero listings, 2019 jets averaged $2,392,666 (3 listed) and 2022 jets averaged $3,242,933 (3 listed), yet 2023 jets averaged only $2,399,950 (2 listed). Samples are small, so a single priced-to-move jet or a hidden issue can skew the averages. Ask why.
- Hours matter. Listed jets under 1,000 airframe hours have a median ask of $2,999,900 (9 listed), while those between 1,000 and 2,000 hours have a median of $2,324,500 (2 listed). Higher-time jets can be good buys if the engine and maintenance programs are current and transferable.
- Treat engine and maintenance program enrollment as part of the price. A jet enrolled in the engine program and Cirrus's JetStream-type maintenance coverage, with the coverage transferable, is worth meaningfully more than one that would require a buy-in or leaves you exposed to unscheduled engine costs.
- Confirm the exact configuration: autothrottle, Safe Return autoland, avionics software level, interior options, and any subscription or connectivity services. Listing titles such as "G2" versus "G2+" are not always precise, so verify by serial number with the factory or a service center.
- With only 14 jets on the market, good examples sell quickly. Have financing, insurance, a pre-buy shop, and a type-rating slot lined up before you make an offer.
Average asking price by model year
Median asking price by airframe time
| 0–1,000 hrs | $2,999,900 | 9 listings |
| 1,000–2,000 hrs | $2,324,500 | 2 listings |
Pre-buy inspection checklist
Have a shop that knows the type do the pre-buy, and ask them to research every applicable AD and service bulletin. Pay particular attention to:
- Engine program status and engine records. The Williams turbofan is the most expensive single component. Verify enrollment, transferability, any buy-in cost, trend monitoring data, and any history of borescope findings or unscheduled events.
- Maintenance program coverage and transfer terms. Factory maintenance coverage changes your cost of ownership. Confirm what is covered, when it expires, and what it costs to transfer or renew.
- CAPS parachute repack and rocket motor due dates. CAPS servicing is a scheduled, expensive event. A jet coming due soon should be priced accordingly.
- Composite airframe damage and repair history. Composite repairs need proper documentation and approved procedures. Hangar rash, hail, or a gear-related event can hide under paint, so use tap testing and a thorough logbook review. Ask for any insurance claim history.
- Landing gear, brakes, and tires. The Vision Jet lands faster than the pistons most owners come from, and hard landings or excursions show up as wear on gear components, brakes, and tires. Look for evidence of prior runway events.
- Pressurization and environmental system. Have a shop run a pressurization check, inspect door and window seals, and test the bleed-air and cooling functions. Squawks here are common and can be fiddly to chase down.
- Ice protection system. Known-ice capability is a major reason to own this jet. Function-test every component and review discrepancy history for the inlet, airframe, and windshield protection.
- Avionics, autothrottle, and Safe Return functionality. Confirm the software level, database and subscription status, autothrottle operation, and emergency autoland functionality. Updates and configuration differences change both value and utility.
- Applicable ADs and service bulletins. As with any newer type, ADs and factory service bulletins continue to be issued. Have a Cirrus-authorized service center research compliance for the specific serial number.
- Windshield, windows, and interior condition. Crazing, delamination, or heat damage to transparencies is costly to fix. Interior wear and broken trim pieces suggest how the jet was used and cared for.
Popular upgrades
- Factory avionics and software updates. Jets brought up to current Perspective Touch software and features are easier to sell and command more money than jets left on older software levels.
- Safe Return emergency autoland. This is a strong value driver for families and passengers. Jets without it, or not eligible for it, generally sell for less.
- Autothrottle (on earlier jets). Autothrottle is standard on G2 and later. On older jets, check what is installed and whether it can be retrofitted, because buyers expect it.
- Connectivity and cabin options. In-flight Wi-Fi, upgraded interiors, and premium packages make a jet more appealing, but they rarely return their full original cost at resale.
- Paint and interior refresh. Fresh paint on a composite jet should come with documentation of proper prep and a repair inspection. Cosmetic work helps a jet sell but does not offset program or history problems.
Ownership costs
This is a jet, and the budget reflects that. fyiAero's operating cost estimate puts variable cost at about $1,534 per hour, based on fuel burn around 70 gallons per hour, plus engine and maintenance reserves. At 325 hours a year, the estimated total annual budget comes to roughly $721,574. Fixed costs at the low end, including insurance, hangar, training, subscriptions, and programs, are estimated at about $223,024 per year. With a 287-knot cruise and roughly 1,200 nautical miles of range, the estimate works out to about $5.31 per nautical mile. That is cheaper than most twin-engine jets and more than a turboprop single like a PC-12 or TBM on many missions. Engine program fees, recurrent type training, CAPS servicing, and insurance swing the most between owners, so build your budget from actual quotes. The average pre-owned value in the estimate is about $2,895,000, and financing costs on that amount belong in the plan too.
Safety record
NTSB records show 9 accidents involving the Vision Jet over the last 10 years, with no fatal accidents and one aircraft destroyed. Measured against the 749 U.S.-registered aircraft, that is 12.0 accidents and 0.0 fatal accidents per 1,000 aircraft over the decade. That is a good record for a fleet flown mostly by owner-pilots, and it reflects mandatory type training, strong factory support, and features like CAPS, envelope protection, and emergency autoland. The accidents that do occur are mostly landing and runway events, such as long or fast landings, gusty crosswinds, and short or contaminated runways. These are classic risks for pilots transitioning from pistons to higher approach speeds. Owners who keep up with recurrent training, use stabilized approach criteria, take runway length margins seriously, and are willing to divert tend to stay out of the records.
Alternatives to consider
- Cessna Citation Mustang. It has two engines, a traditional jet systems layout, and a longer production history. Purchase prices are often lower, but maintenance and fuel per hour are higher, and there is no airframe parachute.
- Eclipse 500 / 550. It is a twin-engine very light jet that is efficient and fast for its size. However, the cabin is tighter, the support network is more specialized, and parts sourcing should be investigated carefully.
- HondaJet. It is faster, has two engines, and offers more range, but it costs considerably more to buy and operate.
- Daher TBM 960 / 940. It is a single-engine turboprop that is nearly as fast, with longer range and better short-field performance. It burns less fuel but flies lower than a jet, and earlier models can be bought for less.
- Pilatus PC-12. It offers a much larger cabin, more payload, and rough-field capability, but it is slower. It is the better choice if you haul people and cargo more than you chase speed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a used Cirrus Vision Jet cost?
fyiAero listings currently show asking prices from $1,650,000 to $3,729,000, with a median of $2,999,900. Generation, airframe hours, program enrollment, and options explain most of the spread.
Do I need a type rating to fly the SF50?
Yes. The Vision Jet requires an SF50 type rating, and Cirrus runs a well-established training program. Insurers will also look at your training background and may require mentor time.
What does it cost to operate a Vision Jet per hour?
fyiAero's estimate puts variable cost at about $1,534 per hour, with fuel burn around 70 gallons per hour. At 325 hours per year, the estimated total annual budget is about $721,574, including fixed costs.
How safe is the Cirrus SF50?
NTSB records show 9 accidents and no fatal accidents in the last 10 years across a U.S. fleet of 749 aircraft, which works out to 12.0 accidents per 1,000 aircraft. Most incidents have been landing-related, so recurrent training and runway discipline matter.
What is the difference between the G2 and G2+?
The G2 added a higher ceiling, autothrottle, and avionics improvements over the original jets. The G2+ added better takeoff performance, especially at hot and high airports, along with further refinements. G2+ jets make up most current listings and command the highest prices.
How far and fast does the Vision Jet fly?
fyiAero's operating estimate uses a cruise of about 287 knots and a range of about 1,200 nautical miles, with four passengers as the practical load. Actual range depends on payload, altitude, winds, and the reserves you plan to carry.
Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet for sale
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Prices, fleet and safety figures update automatically from fyiAero listings, the FAA aircraft registry and NTSB data. The editorial was written by fyiAero with AI assistance from that data and general type knowledge. It is not a substitute for a pre-buy inspection, title search or professional advice.
