Piper Aircraft Launches New M-Class Product, The Piper M600

Vero Beach, Fla. – Piper Aircraft has unveiled the newest addition to their esteemed M-Class line, the M600, a single-engine, 600 horsepower, cabin class turboprop. The Piper M600 is a significant product advancement featuring a newly designed wing, the most sophisticated Garmin technology available, furnished with a redesigned, luxurious interior.  The M600 is the first single-engine turboprop to feature G3000 avionics – a touchscreen-controlled glass flight deck.

The M600 seats six and is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42A 600shp engine. The aircraft has a maximum cruise speed of 260 KTAS / 482 km/h, and has a max range of 1,300 nm / 1,852 km with a max payload of 1200 lbs.  “Our customers and dealers asked for an aircraft with more payload and additional range,” said Piper President and CEO Simon Caldecott. “We listened and we delivered. The M600 encompasses the most advanced safety measures available today in the most ambitious package, with an overall value proposition that is extremely compelling to corporate flight departments and individuals alike.”

The G3000 avionics suite is the most sophisticated Garmin technology available and offers the most comprehensive, intuitive, and technologically advanced package on today’s market. With the G3000, the mechanics of flight deck management are easier and more efficient by design. Integrating control of various radios, audio and intercom channels, transponder codes, checklists, charts, mapping, flight plan entry and other functions, the Garmin GTC 570 touchscreen controller provides a centralized point of access for the majority of all avionics tuning, selection, and data inputs.

“With the advent of the M600, we have given our customers an option to travel nonstop from New York to Florida with added peace of mind afforded by the latest and most advanced safety enhancements,” added Caldecott.

The refurbished interior features ergonomically designed, aesthetically styled seats, which have been optimized for comfort. Enhanced side panels were developed for improved passenger interface. Additionally, three new color palettes have been thoughtfully created with the customer in mind. A comprehensive survey process helped identify the features and attributes that would be most appreciated by both pilots and customers.

The 2016 M600 will be available before year’s end and is listed at a competitive price of $2.82 million.

Upgraded Avionics

The M600’s new Garmin G3000 avionics suite features wide format XGA displays, as well as the latest Garmin software upgrade, along with a GFC700 autopilot with enhanced Autopilot Flight Control System (AFCS), including a number of the industry leading flight safety features:

• Electronic Stability Protection (ESP)
• Underspeed Protection (USP)
• Coupled Go-Around
• Expanded Engagement Envelope
• Level Mode
  • Autopilot Auto-Engage
• Hypoxia Recognition
  • Emergency Descent Mode
• Master caution, master warning, gear position, gear warning incorporated in the G3000

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 M350 inside the performance envelope by automatically engaging servos to slightly correct control surface positions when the aircraft exceeds one or more flight parameters – 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.

Hypoxia Recognition System with Automatic Descent Mode

The Hypoxia Recognition System detects pilot incapacitation as a result of hypoxia by monitoring pilot interaction with the PFD, MFD, and Autopilot Controller at altitudes above cabin 14,900 feet with the autopilot engaged. If no interaction is detected within a specified time period, this system will engage Automatic Descent Mode and bring the aircraft to a lower altitude in an effort to allow recovery from hypoxia. The M350 can safely fly itself without pilot assistance to lower altitudes in the unlikely case the pilot becomes unresponsive.

Automatic Level Mode (Blue Button)

The M350 also features 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 to return the aircraft to straight and level flight. Activating Level Mode cancels allarmed and active modes, leaving all other autopilot modes available, simply by pressing the associated mode control button.

Additional Improvements

Other major improvements for the M600 include a new digital pressurization system, which fully integrates with G3000, 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 cockpit and the cabin, and an optional GTS 825 Traffic Advisory System, which coupled with the GTX 33ES, gives the aircraft ADS-B In and Out functionality. M600 aircraft are also offered with the optional Garmin GSR-56 Global Satellite Datalink Iridium Satellite Transceiver for added connectivity, making the M600 the ideal business aircraft platform.

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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