At Cirrus, our commitment to excellence is not just about designing high-performance aircraft; it’s about creating experiences that transform lives. Scott Chaffin, a Vision Jet owner and pilot, embodies this philosophy. His story is one of passion, persistence, and the kind of freedom that only Personal Aviation™ can offer. Through his journey, Scott has found not just a way to fly, but a way to live.
The Call to Fly: A Dream Rediscovered
Scott’s story with aviation didn’t start with the Vision Jet, but it began with a dream that was put on hold. “I was set to go to the Naval Academy out of high school and was offered a pilot slot,” Scott recalls. “But then that was taken away due to an astigmatism. So, ultimately, I ended up not going into the Navy and pursued another career, but I always wanted to fly.”
Years later, after dropping their daughter off at college, his wife, Kim, reignited that spark. “Scott had always had this dream of flying, and when our kids left the house, we found ourselves at a crossroads. What do we do now?” Kim remembers. “I was a stay-at-home mom, and I thought, ‘What’s my new life going to be?’ So, I said to Scott, ‘How about now we reach for our dreams? You become a pilot, and I’ll write a book and get it published.’ And we sat down and said, ‘Let’s do it.’”
The two embarked on their respective journeys—Scott diving into flight training and Kim writing her book. “I’d be writing at night, and he’d be studying,” she says. “And a year later, my book came out, and Scott had his pilot’s license. We did it.”
A New Beginning with Cirrus
Scott continued his training, earning his Private Pilot’s License and Instrument Rating. He knew the next step was purchasing an aircraft, but before making a decision, he asked Kim a critical question: “Are you going to fly with me?”
Her answer was an immediate no. “So that kind of put a damper on the whole pursuit of aviation because I wanted it to be something we could do together,” Scott says. But then he had an idea. “I said, ‘What if the plane had a parachute?’”
Kim’s response? “I am not jumping out of a plane with a parachute!” she laughs.
Scott reassured her: “No, no. The entire plane has a parachute.” That changed everything. “If that’s the case, I’m in. I could do that,” Kim recalls.
After an experience flight with Dan Arch of Northwest Flight Service and meeting with Ivy McIver, Executive Director of the SR Series Product Line, Kim was sold. “The Cirrus Vision Jet with the parachute, and now with the Safe Return™ button, totally took my fear away. It gave me extra peace of mind,” she says. “If we did have an engine issue, we could pull that chute. And if, heaven forbid, anything happened to Scott, I can get the plane on the ground as simple as pushing a button.”
From SR Series to Vision Jet
For Scott, the Vision Jet represents both efficiency and adventure. “I would put two words to it: It’s a time machine and an adventure machine,” he says. “With work, I can get where I need to go quickly and still be home for dinner. But the other part is adventure. We’ve been able to go places we never thought about going. Instead of saying, ‘How can we get there?’ Now it’s, ‘Why aren’t we going?’”
Scott’s journey to the Vision Jet started with the SR Series, where he built confidence and experience as a pilot. As his travel needs evolved, so did his aircraft. “Moving up to the Vision Jet was a natural step,” he shares. “It gave us more capability without losing the simplicity and safety we loved in the SR Series.”
Kim adds that the ability to take their grandson flying has made it even more special. “To have your grandbaby up in the air and know you have that extra safety, it’s everything,” she said.
The Cirrus Life™: Freedom and Flexibility
Scott’s journey encapsulates what we call “The Cirrus Life™”—a lifestyle defined by freedom, safety and a commitment to living life on your own terms. “The Cirrus Life is the ability to pack up and go where we want, when we want,” Scott says.
That’s what the Cirrus Life is all about: creating experiences that give our customers the freedom to live life fully, to take their dreams to new heights and to do so with the confidence that they are in the safest, most innovative aircraft available.
For Scott and Kim, embracing the Cirrus Life has been about more than just flying. It’s about unlocking a world of opportunities, creating lifelong memories and having the peace of mind that comes with knowing their safety is always a priority. Through the Vision Jet, they’ve found not just a means of travel, but a way to live with purpose, adventure and freedom.
At Cirrus, we are honored to be part of Scott and Kim’s story and the stories of countless other owners who trust us to help them live the Cirrus Life. Are you ready to begin your journey?
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