Model
Meridian PA-46-500T
Manufacturer
Piper Aircraft
Equipped Price
$ 2,038,000
Pax Exec
4
Description
The Malibu Meridian is the first major aircraft program from New Piper Aircraft Inc and is a high performance turboprop development of the popular Malibu Mirage. The Meridian's most obvious feature compared with the Malibu is its Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42A turboprop. The -42A has a thermodynamic rating of 1209 shp (901kW) but is derated to 500 shp on the Meridian for takeoff, which allows the engine to maintain max power through to the aircraft's 30,000ft ceiling, giving a 262 kt (485km/h) cruising speed. Major sections of the Meridian's fuselage are common with the Malibu's but the turboprop features a number of significant changes, including a stainless steel firewall, chord lengthening wing root gloves which increase wing area to ensure a stall speed of less than 61kt, increased area horizontal tail and rudder, and increased fuel capacity. The Meridian also gains a completely new instrument panel. Standard equipment includes a three axis S-TEC autopilot, dual 5in (13cm) colour LCD Garmin GNS 530 integrated GPS displays incorporating IFR GPS and VOR/ILS receiver with glidescope, and a Meggitt Engine Instrument Display System comprising dual LCDs presenting engine information. An Electronic Flight Display System (EFDS) presents information on four Meggitt colour LCDs (two per side), comprising dual primary flight displays and dual navigation displays. A rival turboprop Malibu is the Jetprop DLX which is a conversion of piston-engined PA-46s. It is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-35 which is derated to 417kW (560shp) for take-off.
Relative to Competitors in Class
Performance Stats
| Noise (db) | 76.8 |
| Exterior Length (ft) | 29.5 |
| Exterior Height (ft) | 11.3 |
| Exterior Wingspan (ft) | 43 |
| Cabin Length Net (ft) | 12.3 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 3.9 |
| Cabin Width Max (ft) | 4.1 |
| Engines | P&WC PT6A-42A |
| Output (lbs) | 500 |
| Inspection Interval (hours) | 3,600t |
| Max Takeoff Weight (lbs) | 5,092 |
| Max Payload (lbs) | 1,173 |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 1,457 |
| Executive Payload (lbs) | 800 |
| Available Payload with Max Fuel (lbs) | 318 |
| Take Off Distance - Sea Level/ISA (ft) | 2,438 |
| Take Off Distance - 5000ft /25degs (ft) | 3,691 |
| Max Certificated Altitude (ft) | 30,000 |
| High Speed - True Airspeed (kts) | 257 |
| Max Payload Range - (NM) | 622 |
| Max Fuel Range - (NM) | 905 |
| 600nm Trip Flight Time | 2+32 |
| 600nm Trip Fuel Used | 661 |
| 1000nm Trip Flight Time | 4+34 |
| 1000nm Trip Fuel Used | 920 |