- 17 Oct 2022
- AvBuyer
- Engines - BizAv
Piper based the Malibu Meridian six-seater on the pressurised Piper Malibu with a 500 shp Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42A engine, makes a good business/private aircraft with a 260 kt cruise speed and 1,000 nm range. The current model, which has Garmin G1000 avionics, has a comfortable main cabin in club-four layout, accessed through a rear airstair door.
The Piper Meridian costs between $0.55m for a 2001 model, and $1.40m for a 2015 model, according to Aircraft Bluebook’s Autumn 2022 price data. These values represent the average retail price for a model year, however, there will be variation in price between one model and the next – even from the same year of manufacture. A sale price is driven by several variables including maintenance condition, the time remaining before the next overhaul is due, and airframe time. Moreover, in the case of some older Piper Meridian models, those which have been retrofitted with the more modern Garmin G1000 flight panel will hold greater value compared to ones retaining the original avionics.
There is a range of alternative options for operators to consider, such as the Daher TBM 850, which can accommodate up to five passengers and has a maximum range of 1,585nm.
The Piper Meridian had a number of advances on its predecessors in the Piper line-up, notably the provision of improved avionics and a greater maximum take-off weight.
The Piper M600 is an upgrade to the M500 (today’s in-production version of the original Piper Meridian), and it offers a number of enhancements – notably a clean-sheet wing design, additional horsepower (100shp more than the Piper Meridian), and the introduction of a Garmin G3000 avionics suite. The company has also introduced the M600/SLS, bringing further innovation to the M600 line.
Piper Meridian Turboprop Overview
By Gerrard Cowan - Editor, Aircraft Reviews
The Piper Malibu Meridian has been a fixture in the turboprop market for more than 20 years. While the company now offers a more advanced aircraft in the same segment, the older platform is still in demand in the pre-owned market.
The Piper Meridian was certified in 2000, and is based on the company’s earlier Piper Malibu model.
According to JETNET data, 578 Piper Meridians were built over the years, for a wide range of customers, including Sweden’s Aston Harald AB (which provides a range of technical maintenance, consulting and other services in the maritime sector). Other operators of the six-seater aircraft include companies in the training arena, such as Airline Transport Professionals (ATP).
For the latest market data and full specification information for the Piper Meridian, view the live data feeds on this page from aviation’s leading data providers - Aircraft Blue Book, JETNET, Conklin & de Decker and Asset Insight.
What features does the Piper Meridian offer?
The Meridian has a 500shp Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42A engine, and has a range of about 1,000nm, and since 2009 has featured Garmin G1000 avionics.
Moreover, the aircraft offers a comfortable main cabin, which is accessed through a rear airstair door.
What came before and after the Meridian?
As mentioned, the Piper Meridian was based on the earlier Malibu aircraft. Piper subsequently developed its turboprop offering into what is known as the M-Class, with the M500 being the in-production equivalent of the Meridian.
Major improvements include the new Garmin G1000 NXi avionics suite, which comes with the GFC 700 Autopilot capability and the enhanced automatic flight control system.
Read More:
Read the Piper Meridian Price and Buyers Guide
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