Black Lions do a Flyby in a Cirrus CR22T

Posted on October 6, 2017 by nerancher

I have to admit it. I always wanted to do a flyby. Never mind the fact that I don’t know how to fly. I just thought that it would be cool to follow the canyons from Fort Robinson up to the ranch and wave to the neighbors…all four of them. Well, on the day after the great eclipse, I had the opportunity to do just that. Even better, I had the opportunity to go flying with an old squadron buddy, an F-14 aviator and, yes, it doesn’t get much better than that!

The day after the eclipse, Gary Black, Great Plains Regional Director for Cirrus Aircraft, invited my son, Sergei and I to get an up close look at the new Cirrus SR22T. Walking around the aircraft, it was immediately clear that everything about it, from the finely detailed paint job to the comfortable and efficient cabin, spelled luxury and comfort like a top of the line sports car. We topped off the aircraft, did a walk around and jumped inside to continue our pre-flight for a short hop around the Crawford area.

Once inside, the first thing I noticed was that cockpits had changed. Actually, they changed quite a lot in the past thirty years, which was about the lat time I had a ride in a general aviation aircraft. The dual instrument panel reflected a finely tuned integration of computer and display technologies with aircraft sensors. Flight controls, engine, and navigation information is displayed on the easy to read blue and orange panels shown below. And, in keeping with the sports car feel of the aircraft, the familiar XM Radio, satellite phone, and GPS are are all part of Cirrus’ Global Connect package. With these tools, trip planning and keeping informed along the way should be a snap.

Getting an Aerial View of the Ridge

View of our Ranch’s Headquartersw of the Ranch Headquarters

Hands down, the best part of this trip was getting to fly with Gary Black. An accomplished aviator, engineer and test pilot, it was a thrill to experience the ultra-smooth way that a professional aviator moves through each phase of the flight. Pure artistry! He talked us through taxi, takeoff, and the short cruise over to the ranch. Throughout, he deftly demonstrated the feature rich cockpit and every maneuver. A quick circle, and we were on our way back to Chadron Airport.

I guess the last thing that I learned on this flight was that it’s hard to get out of a Cirrus and not want one. Yep, even for non-aviators. The fusion of technology, sleek lines, and simplicity arouses a natural attraction. All we could think of, or say for that matter, as we stepped out of the aircraft was…wow! It wasn’t till Sergei and I were driving home that we both realized we had finally checked the block on that flyby. Many thanks to Gary and the Black family for this wonderful treat!