Photography by Jan Morgan
Collection Gift Guide: The Pied Piper
December 1, 2005
The big Piper is at its most efficient at a recommended cruise altitude of
25,000 feet, averaging 255 knots (293 mph) true airspeed and burning 250 pounds
(36 gallons) of Jet A per hour. With 175 gallons of fuel on board, the Meridian
provides about 4.2 hours of cruise with adequate IFR reserves remaining, and
works out to a range of 1,000+ nautical miles. This makes the Meridian ideal for
personal executive transport.
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Passengers enter via an “air stair” door. (Click on image to enlarge.)On approach to the runway, the wide blades of the large prop make specific speed brakes unnecessary. Turbine engines don’t suffer from shock cooling, and I found myself somewhat fast and high on approach; a tug on the power lever gave me the accelerated descent rate and speed reduction that I needed—a bricklike 2,000 fpm and 90 knots—to make the runway. The relatively high descent rate prompted the Avidyne’s female voice to chime in with an anxious “Descending! Pull up!” but I landed uneventfully in a flat attitude, the landing gear’s long stroke smoothing out the touchdown. It was an indication of the Meridian’s flexibility and exceptional flying qualities, and a tribute to its straightforward handling.
Moving up to a Meridian—priced at just under $2 million—can greatly extend a pilot’s reach with its speed, all-weather capability, comfort, and safety. And in the case of an entrepreneur, it means dinner at home with the family after a successful day of visiting far-flung clients.
New Piper Aircraft, 772.567.4361, www.newpiper.com
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