402 Flying the Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet Before the Type Rating: 5 Days with Ken Ansin

Vision Jet owner Ken joins Max Trescott to recount an unforgettable five-day training adventure that bridged the gap between piston flying and turbine jet proficiency. As a longtime Cirrus SR22 pilot from the Boston area, Ken had spent nearly a decade flying for both business and family trips, rarely exceeding 300 nautical miles from home. When he decided to upgrade to a 2019 G2 Vision Jet, he wanted more than a checkout—he wanted a head start on mastering the airplane before tackling the Cirrus type rating course in Knoxville.

In this episode, Ken explains how his "pre-SOE" plan came together. After reaching out to Max, the two pilots scheduled nearly a week of flying to experience diverse weather, airports, and procedures. The goal: to learn the G3000 avionics, improve cockpit workflow, and build real-world familiarity before entering formal training. Their first day took them from Bedford, Massachusetts, to Burlington, Vermont, and then to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where Max demonstrated how to safely cancel IFR and load a visual approach when haze and sun glare limited visibility. That night, while returning to Bedford, they learned the importance of aiming for runway aiming points—not the numbers—especially during night landings in jets. Day two brought a new challenge: deciding whether to fly west toward the Rockies or south toward better weather. A massive cold front made the decision easy, and the pair headed south instead. After a scenic leg along Long Island to Atlantic City, Ken received what Max called "the longest IFR clearance ever." Rather than manually entering the clearance into the G3000, Max showed how to import the flight plan directly from ForeFlight—a huge time-saver for managing long routes. That evening's destination was Greene County, Georgia (3J7), near Ken's in-laws' home at Lake Oconee. The stop held sentimental value: it was the same airport where Ken had first landed years earlier with his brand-new SR22. The next morning brought low fog and another teachable moment. When poor cell coverage prevented them from obtaining an IFR release, Max used the Vision Jet's SAT phone to call clearance delivery—a practical use for a feature many pilots overlook. Later that day, while practicing a VX climb—a maximum-performance takeoff used for steep departure gradients—Ken forgot to raise the landing gear, a common mistake during the high-workload maneuver. The oversight led to a discussion about better cues, timing, and division of tasks between pilots to avoid forgetting critical steps. They also discovered that one set of keys had been left in the cabin door—a harmless but memorable moment that required returning to the airport to retrieve them. From Georgia, they flew to Asheville, North Carolina, for real-world mountain experience, and then to John C. Tune Airport in Nashville. When ATC issued a last-minute vector, Max demonstrated how to safely "do nothing"—allowing the autopilot to intercept as planned instead of overcomplicating things. On day four, they returned to Boston. At night, controllers twice ignored their request for an ILS approach into Bedford, forcing a visual approach at higher altitude and steeper descent rates. Max explained why instrument approaches at night are always safer, and how overworked controllers sometimes inadvertently increase pilot workload. The final day offered a lighter tone: a short hop to Nantucket, one of Ken's favorite destinations. There, Max illustrated how adjusting throttle settings and altitude can drastically change fuel burn—saving nearly 18 gallons on a short leg by reducing power. Ken wrapped up by reflecting on what he gained from the experience: confidence, familiarity with the Vision Jet's systems, and a deeper appreciation for proactive learning. "I encourage other pilots to build their own syllabus," he said, "because flying with an instructor like Max before formal training was both incredibly valuable and a lot of fun." Whether you fly a Cir