Piper Aircraft Debuts M500 at Product Launch Event

Vero Beach, Fla. – Piper Aircraft officially debuted the single-engine Meridian M500 turbine business aircraft with the latest in Garmin avionics, enhanced safety features, and a number of other significant product improvements. As part of the Meridian M500 debut, Piper announced the availability of the Executive Interior option.    

“The 2015 Piper Meridian M500 remains equipped with the very latest Garmin avionics package for improved safety,” said Piper President and CEO Simon Caldecott. “As we continue our pursuit of product improvement initiatives, we wanted to address an opportunity to offer an enhanced interior that would be a laudable accompaniment to this superior aircraft.”

The M500 Executive Interior features an assortment of enhancements, including all new plush leather for the existing six-place club seating, the addition of new side panel accents, wider outboard armrests, new avionics panel trim, passenger interface improvements, and an entirely new color palate, including thoughtful accents in a beige and mocha finish. Set apart from predecessors in its class, the M500 Executive Interior uses the same luxurious accents and amenities from the cabin into the cockpit, creating a clean, consistent continuance throughout the aircraft.

The Meridian M500 is powered by the same Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42A 500shp engine, sports a 260 KTAS / 482 km/h max cruise speed, and has a range of 1,000 nm / 1,852 km. Equipped with an improved Garmin G1000 avionics suite, the 2015 M500 is listed at a competitive price of $2.26 million. Additional product improvements include an exhaustive list of enhanced safety features in the cockpit:

• Electronic Stability Protection (ESP)
• Underspeed Protection (USP)
• Coupled Go-Around
• Level Mode
  • Autopilot Auto-Engage
• Expanded Engagement Envelope
• Master caution, master warning, gear position, gear warning incorporated in the G1000
• Digital Pressurization (now integrated with the Garmin G1000 avionics)

Electronic Stability Protection

Electronic Stability Protection (ESP) helps prevent the onset of stall/spins, steep spirals, and loss-of-control conditions. This passive feature discourages aircraft operation outside the desired flight envelope. ESP functions independently of the autopilot system and only takes effect when the pilot is hand-flying the aircraft with the autopilot disengaged. It works as a soft barrier to keep the Piper M500 inside the performance envelope by automatically engaging servos to slightly correct control surface positions when the aircraft exceeds one or more flight parameter – essentially encouraging it back inside safe parameters.

Underspeed Protection (USP)

Underspeed Protection (USP) is a flight director function that reacts to underspeed conditions in a way that allows the autopilot to remain engaged but prevents the airplane from stalling while the PFD annunciates when active.

With stall protections developed as part of the USP system, coupled go-arounds are possible without disengaging the autopilot. With this feature, the autopilot will remain engaged and fly the missed approach. If power is not added, the USP system will maintain a speed just above stall warning, adjusting airplane pitch attitude as required.

Coupled Go-Around

With stall protections developed as part of the Underspeed Protection (USP) system, coupled go-arounds are possible without disengaging the autopilot.  With this feature, the autopilot remains engaged and will fly the missed approach.  If power is not added, the USP system will maintain a speed just above stall warning, adjusting airplane pitch attitude as required.  Pilot workload is now significantly reduced when flying a missed approach further enhancing aircraft safety.

Automatic Level Mode (Blue Button)

The M500 also features as standard equipment an autopilot Level Mode function that, when triggered, will return the aircraft to a wings level attitude with zero vertical speed. Upon activation, Level Mode will automatically engage the flight director and autopilot functions to return the aircraft to straight and level flight. Activating Level Mode cancels all armed and active modes leaving all other autopilot modes available while the Level Mode is activated by simply pressing the associated mode control button.

Additional Improvements

Other major improvements for the Meridian M500 includes a new digital pressurization which fully integrates with G1000, the Aspen EFD-1000 standby instrument, electroluminescent placards in cockpit, GTX 33 Extended Squitter Transponder, a centrally located single audio panel, USB charging ports in both the cabin and the cockpit, and an optional GTS 825 Traffic Advisory System, which coupled with the GTX 33ES gives the aircraft ADS-B In and Out functionality. M500 aircraft is also offered with the optional Garmin GSR-56 Global Satellite Datalink Iridium Satellite Transceiver for added connectivity (phone call and text capability) with business taking place on the ground.

For Piper Sales in Hawaii and South California, visit: Cutter Piper Sales.

For Piper sales in Texas, visit: Texas Piper Sales.

About Piper M-Class Aircraft

Piper M-Class aircraft offer Piper performance and safety built upon a proven airframe that has been an industry standard for years. Three refined, cabin class derivatives comprise the full line: the M600, Meridian M500, and the M350; the Matrix is also part of the M-Class family. Each product fits its own niche and price point, and each aircraft provides a seamless step-up to the next level. Created to maximize the business and the private travel experience, the M-Class line offers market leading safety as well as performance, efficiency, and value.

About Piper Aircraft

Piper Aircraft Inc., headquartered in Vero Beach, Fla., offers aviators throughout the world efficient and reliable single- and twin-engine aircraft. The single-engine M-Class series – the M600, Meridian M500, M350, and Matrix – offers businesses and individuals elegant performance and value. The Twin Class Seneca and Seminole balance proven performance, efficiency and simplicity in twin-engine aircraft. The Trainer Class Archer TX, Archer DX, Arrow, Seminole and Seneca aircraft form the most complete technically-advanced line of pilot training aircraft in the world. Unparalleled service and support is offered through a network of 38 dealers and nearly 100 service centers worldwide.  All Piper airplanes feature advanced Garmin avionics in the cockpit. Piper is a member of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.

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