Piper Aircraft

Piper announced the latest iteration of its Meridian turboprop single, which it now calls the M500. I’ll admit up front that my initial reaction upon hearing the news was this: Whenever a company makes a name change to a product and that new name includes a number (in this case, the number 500) I have […]

Piper Aircraft has launched a new airplane in its single-engine M-class series called the M500. An upgraded Meridian turboprop model, the M500 brings Garmin G1000 avionics along with other new technologies to the six-seat airplane, which was first introduced in the early 1980s. In addition to the well-known benefits of the G1000 system, such as […]

The Piper Seminole is the latest to achieve type certificate change approval from the FAA to integrate the Garmin GFC 700 autopilot in the Garmin G1000-equipped piston-powered aircraft. With an Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS)-based automatic flight control system that provides flight director, autopilot, yaw damper, automatic and manual electric trim capabilities, the GFC […]

Piper owners and students training for their multiengine ratings will have an easier time flying their Seneca Vs as Piper has achieved an amended type certificate adding Garmin’s GFC 700 autopilot, which is integrated with the G1000 avionics system. The FAA sign-off was achieved a little more than one year after Piper started installing the […]

FlightSafety International has added a level-D Pilatus PC-12/47 simulator to its Dallas Learning Center, making it the only such simulator in the world qualified to the highest approval standard. The simulator is equipped with legacy avionics including a Garmin GMX 200 multifunction display and a pair of Garmin GNS 530W GPS units. It also features […]

Piper Aircraft yesterday launched a diesel version of the Archer at the Aero Friedrichshafen show in Germany powered by a Continental/Centurion 2.0S jet-A compression-ignition engine. Piper and Continental have already completed flight testing of the prototype in Germany, leading to an EASA STC in Europe and clearing the way for deliveries to start early next […]

Anybody in the market for a new light piston twin won’t have to spend much time creating a list of potential airplanes to buy. As long as we can agree that the French single-seater Cri Cri and the open cockpit AirCam don’t quite cut it as viable options in the quest for a do-it-all twin, […]

Piper said it will unveil its new iPad-based Pilots Operating Handbook (POH) app at AOPA Summit later this month. The project, which will start with Piper’s M-class and twin-engine models, uses Aircraft Technical Publishers (ATP) HubConnect app. Piper vice president of sales and marketing Drew McEwen said, “Our collaboration with ATP gives the owners and […]

Piper Aircraft has made a series of test flights in a Lycoming-powered Archer running on 93-octane premium automotive gasoline as the Vero Beach, Florida, manufacturer seeks a more environmentally friendly alternative to 100LL fuel. For the tests Piper worked with Airworthy AutoGas of Phoenix to evaluate a new high-purity unleaded fuel due to go on […]

The twin-engine Seminole is the latest of Piper’s offerings to receive type certificate approval from the FAA for the integrated Garmin G1000 avionics system. G1000-equipped Seminoles are expected to start rolling out of the Vero Beach, Florida, factory next month, and Piper will have one on display at AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, set for July […]