A decade ago when Piper introduced its new single-engine turboprop, the Piper Meridian, nobody was quite sure what to make of it. How would it coexist in Piper’s lineup with the popular pressurized piston single Malibu Mirage, on which the Meridian is based? And perhaps most importantly, would a new, expensive-to-develop turboprop single save Piper from the financial brink or push it over the edge?
Well, those questions have been answered. After seven years in production, the Piper Meridian has been a star for the company, which is still in business and looking at moving up-market again, with its recently announced PiperJet. When I toured the factory a few weeks ago, Piper Meridian serial number 312 was moving down the line, and Piper plans to build 50 Meridians by the end of the year.
