Stepping Up to a Citation CJ3+: Jason Rhode’s Path From DA40 to Jet
Former Cirrus Logic CEO Jason Rhode didn’t grow up dreaming of flying. Here is how he stepped up from a DA40 to a Citation CJ3+.
Jason Rhode didn’t start with a childhood dream of flying. It began with a sweaty preflight in 110-degree Austin heat and a ForeFlight demo from a colleague.
In Episode 364, sponsored by Textron Aviation, the former Cirrus Logic CEO walks through every step from his first airplane to a Citation CJ3+.
- 01Stepping up from a DA40 to a DA62, Kodiak, TBM and CJ3+
- 02How owning an airplane extended his CEO career by four to five years
- 03How Textron’s ownership program handles maintenance, mentor pilots and service centers
- 04Buying a CJ3+ that had been in a ditch
- 05Finding an insurance underwriter for a jet transition
- 06Flying rescue missions and concert trips in the Citation
A different path in
Jason’s flying started with a hot Austin preflight and a ForeFlight demo, not a childhood dream. From there, he stepped up through a DA40, DA62, Kodiak and TBM.
Why the airplane mattered
Jason credits owning an airplane with extending his time as a CEO by four to five years.
Buying and insuring the CJ3+
His CJ3+ purchase included an airplane that had been in a ditch, and finding an insurance underwriter for the jet transition took work of its own.
Ownership support and missions
Jason explains how Textron’s ownership program handles maintenance tracking, mentor pilots and service center coordination, and how he uses the Citation for animal-rescue flights and trips to concerts.
Jason Rhode
Jason Rhode is the former CEO of Cirrus Logic. He progressed from a DA40 through the DA62, Kodiak and TBM to a Citation CJ3+.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Jason Rhode?
Jason Rhode is the former CEO of Cirrus Logic and the owner of a Citation CJ3+.
What airplanes did Jason Rhode fly before the CJ3+?
He progressed through a DA40, DA62, Kodiak and TBM before the Citation CJ3+.
Is it hard to insure a jet transition?
In this episode Jason describes how finding an insurance underwriter for his jet transition took real effort.
