Piper PA-46-400TP?

[Citationkid]

Does any one know anything about the new mini Meridian? How's does it compare to the -500TP? Has it flown yet?

Thanks,

Alex.

 

[bigD]

I haven't heard anything about it, but I've never really understood the market of the Meridian. Seems like way too many compromises for a plane with a base price of $1.9M. And with the limited capability of the standard Meridian, I don't understand why Piper would make an even less capable version.

 

[Citationkid]

I haven't heard anything about it, but I've never really understood the market of the Meridian. Seems like way too many compromises for a plane with a base price of $1.9M. And with the limited capability of the standard Meridian, I don't understand why Piper would make an even less capable version.

I agree with your last sentence, I don't understand why they're making a smaller version of it either, that's one of reasons I made this thread. I respectfully disagree with the rest of what you've said though, I think it's a great airplane and perfect for the rich pilot who doesn't want to waste all that money on a King Air when he only needs 6 seats, but doesn't want to be stuck doing 210 knots in a P210 or Malibu.

Alex.

 

[Flechas]

Look who's back!!!!!!!

 

[bigD]

I see where you're coming from, but I don't think a Malibu makes any sense either (I don't know anything about the P210). The problem with the plane is the useful load. The plane I fly shares a hangar with a Meridian, and that particular plane is pretty well equipped and has a useful load of 1610 pounds. That's not a lot at all, especially when you've got 170 gallons of usable fuel. That basically leaves you with 2 people and a few bags, if any, if you fuel up the tanks.

Now granted you're not going to be flying that thing 1000nm very often, so you can take less fuel. But when you start looking at your typical 200-300nm trip where you can actually take some people with you, the 40-50 knot speed advantage over a Baron, Twin Cessna, etc...isn't really that big of a factor.

 

[bigD]

Also, don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to rag on your parents' ride or anything. The Meridian is a fine aircraft, but I think there are much better choices given the money.

If I had 1.9 large to spend on a plane, I'd be thinking King Air, or at the very least a late model TBM 700.

 

[Citationkid]

Don't worry BigD, it's not my parents ride. The one I ride along in is owned by a private individual who mostly flies by himself, with his wife, or with me and only needs the 500 pounds full fuel useful load the '04 Meridian has. A King Air is too much airplane for him to justify (he doesn't need 8 or 10 seats and two engines). He hates the French and the TBM is way behind the Meridian when it comes to the panel, so the Meridian is the perfect plane for him.

Have a good weekend,

Alex.

 

[bigD]

Oh, it's not your parents' ride? Then I don't feel bad - the Meridian sucks!

 

[vortex]

The Meridian is nothing more than an entry-level turbo prop.

The -400 might be okay for a low-timer that is moving up from a Saratoga/182RG/Bonanza but can't yet get insurance for a twin turboprop.

 

[Senior_Citizen]

Just two questions?

Where Piper finds that amount of crazy owner pilots who opts for a single turboprop instead of a safer twin (regardless if it's a piston twin), just the speed (3-10 minutes faster on tipical routes), or they love the Jet-A fragance? I don't understand the success of this kind of single turboprop (the meridian, the TBM-700, and the PC-12).

Another, if you have 300hr TT and a CFI ME rating, whats the problem with the insurance, you can easy opt for an not so old King90 or a King B200 for that Money(1.9MM us$), Ok you may have 4 or more seats empty on every flight, but are safer planes and more predictable than any single TP, the insurance may be higher with an low time PIC, but you may contract an experienced captain while you build time on the complex plane, and when you have the requiered time for a reasonable insurance rate you may take the control as PIC w/o SIC. Isn't Locigal?

More due to the arrival of the mini-jets (A700, Eclipse, Mustang, microWSCofD...), the price of the Kings is falling abruptly, it's easy to find a King90 for less than 2MM and with less than 300 hrTT.

-sorry by my poor english-

 

[Citationkid]

Just two questions?

Where Piper finds that amount of crazy owner pilots who opts for a single turboprop instead of a safer twin (regardless if it's a piston twin), just the speed (3-10 minutes faster on tipical routes), or they love the Jet-A fragance? I don't understand the success of this kind of single turboprop (the meridian, the TBM-700, and the PC-12).

Another, if you have 300hr TT and a CFI ME rating, whats the problem with the insurance, you can easy opt for an not so old King90 or a King B200 for that Money(1.9MM us$), Ok you may have 4 or more seats empty on every flight, but are safer planes and more predictable than any single TP, the insurance may be higher with an low time PIC, but you may contract an experienced captain while you build time on the complex plane, and when you have the requiered time for a reasonable insurance rate you may take the control as PIC w/o SIC. Isn't Locigal?

The Meridian is a lot cheaper to operate than any King Air or any other twin engine turboprop. Where did you get the fact that a twin engine turboprop is any safer than a Meridian? There have four fatal Meridian accidents. All would've have happend if the pilot were in a King Air. Buying a King Air and then having a contract pilot act as PIC defeats the whole purpose of buying your own airplane.

The difference between the Meridian and the King Air is basically the same as the difference between the Saratoga and Navajo. They're different planes built for different missions. Trying to convince a Meridian owner that they should've gotten a King Air because they're the same price is the same as trying to convince a Saratoga owner they should've bought a Navajo because they're the same price.

Have a good day,

Alex.

P.S. Please don't flame me too badly

 

[bigD]

Citationkid - you're right, the King Air is a completely different class of airplane. But shouldn't that tell you that $1.9M is a little steep for a plane that has more in common with a P-Baron? Even the twin Cessna's (except the 310) are in a different class when it comes to size.

 

[English]

1.9 million?

I know of a great little CJ for sale for that price. Low time airplane in great shape.

 

[Capthuff]

Ahh the original CJ what a sweet ride... limited - I'll give you that - but a sweet ride nonetheless.

 

[Citationkid]

Citationkid - you're right, the King Air is a completely different class of airplane. But shouldn't that tell you that $1.9M is a little steep for a plane that has more in common with a P-Baron?

It's not just the Meridian that is over priced, it's all planes now-a-days! Comparing it to a Baron is a great idea. The Baron, new, goes for 1.2 million. It's 70 knots slower than the Merdian, cruises a lot lower, it's a lot more complicated when it comes to flying and has a lot less room. So the extra .7 million for the Meridian makes sense.

We're not talking about a used plane, so mention that you can get an old King Air or old CJ for 1.9 mil isn't a good comparision. If you want to talk used you can pick up an "old" Meridian for a million even so use that number.

What does a new King Air 90 cost now?

Have a good weekend,

Alex.

 

[bigD]

I've been in the back of both a Baron and a Mirage, and it's pretty much the same thing. Neither one is a cabin class airplane. Both are terrible for 6 people. Point is, the Baron is a much closer airplane to the Meridian than a King Air is.

 

[bigD]

Heh heh - I'm sorry man. You come in asking a question, and we're just giving you crap. And you are right about a lot of overpriced new airplanes, but just because 1.2 for a Baron is dumb doesn't mean it's not dumb to pay 1.9 for a Malibu with a PT-6 on the front.

 

[Citationkid]

Heh heh - I'm sorry man. You come in asking a question, and we're just giving you crap. And you are right about a lot of overpriced new airplanes, but just because 1.2 for a Baron is dumb doesn't mean it's not dumb to pay 1.9 for a Malibu with a PT-6 on the front.

Haha, don't worry about it, you all have been much kinder than most when in comes to talking to me on this site! You're right, it is dumb to pay all that money for an airplane, but when you're that rich you're allowed to be dumb! I guess no one knows anything about the -400TP, I'll just stop by SkyTech next time I'm over at MTN and see if they'll talk to me.

Alex.

 

[2000flyer]

Well, folks, I don't know anything about the Meridian. What I do know is starting several years ago, people with money to burn were slapping the PT6, Allison and other turbine engines in older A36 Bonanza's, P210's, C206's. Piper saw dollar signs and ran with it. I flew a TBM demo when they first came out and boy, what a blast that was. I wouldn't want to make a living in one but for short trips it would have been great!

As for Piper placing a nearly identical twin in it's stable all one has to do is look at Cessna. CJ1, 2 and 3 come to mind as does the Bravo, Ultra (now Encore). There is only minor differences in each yet Cessna is selling the daylights out of them. I think Piper might have hit the nail on the head!

2000Flyer

 

[bigD]

Haha, don't worry about it, you all have been much kinder than most when in comes to talking to me on this site! You're right, it is dumb to pay all that money for an airplane, but when you're that rich you're allowed to be dumb! I guess no one knows anything about the -400TP, I'll just stop by SkyTech next time I'm over at MTN and see if they'll talk to me.

Listen Citationkid - you're gonna encounter a lot of crap because franky, most of us would have given their right nad to get a chance to fly what you've flown at your age. You've got a silver spoon in your mouth, but work hard nonetheless, and remember to help out those working their way up in the industry that don't have the resources you have. The key is to stay low on the radar for a bit and learn as much as you can. You'll be just fine in the long run.