Cirrus Design, better known for their SR20 and SR22 piston aircraft is set to enter the VLJ market. In a mailing sent out this week Cirrus Design has said that it will officially launch their single-engine entry later this month in Orlando at the 2006 NBAA convention.

Early specs for the CirrusJet list the ability to cruise at more than 300 knots, a range of over 1,000 nm and an expected service ceiling of 25,000 feet. Following in the success of their piston program, the all composite CirrusJet will also be outfitted with an emergency ballistic parachute recovery system from BRS.

With an expected selling price of less than $1 million, Cirrus is currently accepting refundable $100,000 deposits for the first aircraft to be delivered. In addition to the official launch of the latest VLJ program, the engine supplier is also to be announced at NBAA on Wednesday.

The VLJ industry is expected to be heavily represented at this years convention as news as new programs and information are released throughout the show.