CEO FORUM – 11.18.15 HCARS

Revolutionizing the Industry:
From Kit Planes to Personal Jets

Dale Klapmeier and his brother Alan co-founded Cirrus Aircraft in 1984 in a barn on their family farm near Baraboo, Wisconsin. Their first design had its initial flight in 1988. Since then, Cirrus Aircraft has revolutionized the industry with their use of composite materials, glass-panel technology, and whole-airframe ballistic parachutes, delivering over 6000 piston-powered SR-series aircraft to date. Mr. Klapmeier piloted Cirrus through the turbulence of the recession and acquisition by new investors. The company is preparing to launch the Vision SF50, a personal jet that can be flown by a non-professional pilot. As vice-chairman of the board of Cirrus, he oversees product strategy and future product development. Cirrus is currently based in Duluth, Minnesota.

The winner of numerous awards, Mr. Klapmeier was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in October, 2014, and into the Minnesota Business Hall of Fame in July, 2015. He holds degrees in business administration and economics from the University of Wisconsin—Stevens Point.