PIPER MERIDIAN

STANDARD DATA: (180) Seats 4. Gross wt. 2,550. Empty wt. 1,475. Fuel capacity 60. Engine 500-shp Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42A. PERFORMANCE: Top mph 167. Cruise mph 150. Stall mph 61. Initial climb rate 910. Ceiling 18,500. Range 705. Takeoff distance (50′) 2,240. Landing distance (50′) 1,015.

The New Piper Meridian is for all intents and purposes a Malibu with a Pratt & Whitney 500-shp PT6A-42A up front. Though smaller that some of its competition, the Meridian compares favorably with the TMB 700 and PC 12. Within its niche, single engine turbines compare favorably with many smaller pure jets, and consequently new entries in the category are always being discussed. The Meridian suffered poor payload numbers in the beginning, but a string of improvements and modifications have allowed New Piper’s biggest single to remain strong in the market.