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Fact Files  >  Meridian, PA-46-500T

New Piper - Meridian, PA-46-500T
Category: Single-Engine Turboprop
Years Aircraft Manufactured: 2000 - current
Printer friendy version


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.

Seating (normal) 4 Max Takeoff (lbs) 5,092
Seating (maximum) - Certified Ceiling (ft) 30,000
Engines P&WC PT6A-42A To (Sealevel, ISA Temp) (ft) 2,438
Output lbs ea. Flat Rating 500shp/ISA+55 Landing Distance (ft) -
Maximum Mach No. - Max Range (fuel) (nm) 960
High Speed Cruise (Kts) 257 Max Range (payload) (nm) 217
Flight Time 300nm 1 + 20 Flight Time 1000nm 4 + 4
Flight Time 600nm 2 + 40    
External Internal
Length (ft) 29.60 Length (ft) 12.30
Height (ft) 11.30 Height (ft) 3.90
Span (ft) 43.00 Width: Max floor (ft) 4.10
 

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