The Music City beckons with its blend of country, blues, and soul. But there’s more to Nashville than music—and more than one way to get as many of your friends and family there to join you on an epic flying adventure to this star of Tennessee. You could choose a “local” mount in the Cirrus G6 SR, the latest version of the SR22T, to bring your family—the Cirrus Aircraft Customer Experience Center is a couple hours east on Interstate 40 in Knoxville. Or you could fit a handful of your closest friends—for a fun time along Music Row—in the Piper M600/SLS Halo.
Family: Cirrus G6 SR
The SR22 line of normally aspirated and turbocharged single-engine piston aircraft got a speed upgrade with its 2022 version, what Cirrus Aircraft dubs the G6 SR. The base model is the SR22 G6 that’s been offered for several years—but the enhancements with the latest iteration translate to more speed. Is that right? Yes, up to 9 knots better—we saw a 2-knot improvement at 8,500 feet on our test flight in early 2022—for 181 ktas.
The four-seat G6 SR features a Garmin Perspective+ integrated flight deck up front with standard safety features such as the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) and enhanced stability protection (ESP). Connectivity comes with advanced aircraft insights through the Cirrus IQ application—a status screen with Maintenance Minder, My Trips, and warranty information. The Arrivée package announces the new series on the ramp, with a selection of both new and previously popular airframe colors, including
Himalayan Salt, and updates to the baggage door and exterior lighting.
Under the cowl, the G6 SR is powered by the 315-hp Continental IO-550 and boasts a 1,021 nm range. Useful load sits at 1,246 pounds, so you can bring both kids plus all of their snacks and toys.
Friends: Piper M600/SLS Halo
The evolution of 40 years has led Piper Aircraft from the PA-46 Malibu, first launched in 1982, to today’s top-of-the-line M600/SLS Halo single-engine turboprop. The pressurized airframe was the third single on the market to go high—following the Cessna P210 Centurion and the Mooney M22—and the M600 takes the model to new heights of performance and safety. The M600/SLS was the initial certification bed for Garmin’s Autoland system, which brings together avionics and airframe capability to land the airplane in an emergency situation when the pilot is incapacitated.
Up front, the M600/SLS is pulled through the air by the Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42A engine, flat-rated at 600 shp, and a Hartzell five-bladed prop. One of the elements of the Halo autoland system, the autothrottle, assists the pilot with powerplant management from takeoff, through the approach, to landing. Add in a range while carrying five passengers with light bags—a total of 1,000 pounds—of up to 800 nm while drinking around 40 gph at an economy-cruise setting, and you have lower costs to split with your friends than other aircraft in the class.
With a useful load of up to 2,400 pounds, those pals can bring their golf clubs—or a guitar or two—and get to the city while cruising along at up to 274 ktas. A stylish arrival, indeed.
This article was first published in the 2022 Southeast Adventure Guide of FLYING Magazine.
