Piper Aircraft's M500 made its regional debut at the Aero Friedrichshafen show, and the US airframer is now eager to secure long-awaited European Aviation Safety Agency validation for the single-engined turboprop, and begin deliveries across the continent.
“We began the EASA validation process 19 months ago,” says Piper president and chief operating officer Simon Caldecott. “We hope to finally secure it by the middle of the year.”
The M500 received US certification in December 2014 and entered service the following month. The aircraft is an upgraded and rebranded version of the 15-year-old Meridian turboprop, featuring a Garmin G1000 flightdeck and a revamped interior. “We have delivered more than 40 aircraft so far, mostly in the USA,” says Caldecott. “There is a lot of pent-up demand in Europe, and we expect it to be a strong market for the aircraft.”
The Vero Beach, Florida-based airframer recently slashed the price of the M500 by almost $300,000, to $2 million. Caldecott says this is part of Piper’s strategy to reposition its M-Class piston and turboprop product line ahead of certification of the new flagship M600.
The cost of the Matrix piston-single has been lowered by $40,000 to $900,000, while the pressurised M350 is now available with a revamped interior and Garmin G1000 flightdeck. “This price reduction is designed to help customers step into the M-Class family at a more competitive price point,” says Caldecott. “It also provides spacing between the products that would support the optimal step-up structure.”
Piper is preparing the $2.9 million M600 for certification and service entry in the third quarter of this year. Its three test aircraft have logged more than a combined 1,400h, reaching speeds of 274kt (507km/h) and a maximum range of over 1,440nm (2,660km).
“The performance is greater than the originally projected speed of 260kt and 1,200nm range,” says Caldecott. The six-seat, single-engined turboprop was launched by the US airframer in April 2015. Based on the M500, it features a redesigned wing, a restyled interior and advanced digital fuel management technologies.
Piper also announced at the show it has received a contract from the UND Aerospace Foundation for 112 Archer TX piston-singles and Seminole piston-twins. The G1000-equipped aircraft will be used for flight training by the University of North Dakota and deliveries will be spread over eight years, starting in the fourth quarter of this year.
Source: Flight International
