This 2005 Piper PA-46-500TP Malibu Meridian Is an Approachable Turboprop and an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

This long-running Piper model offers an appealing combination of performance and economy.

Among turboprops, Piper’s Malibu Meridian is straightforward and familiar to most piston pilots. [Courtesy: John Hightower]

Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

For many owners of high-performance piston singles, it is only a matter of time before pressurized turboprops begin tempting them toward higher speeds and cruising altitudes. While climbing to the flight levels in a piston airplane can seem like a chore—if you can get there at all—turboprops are designed for the thin-air environment.

Piper’s Malibu Meridian and its successors have been in production for more than 20 years, leaving a range of aircraft on the market with ages, equipment, and prices to match a range of budgets. Compared with other turboprop singles, the Piper has the reputation as a straightforward turbine machine that is easy to live with.

This Malibu Meridian has 3,602 hours on the airframe and 2,625 on the engine since overhaul in June 2013. The panel features Avidyne FlightMax Entegra PFDs and E5000 MFD, Dual Garmin GTN 650 GPS/Nav/Coms, PS Engineering PMA6000BT audio panel, GTX 330 and GTX 345 ADS-B transponders, and  WX500 Stormscope.

Piston-single pilots seeking the additional speed, climb rate, and load-carrying capacity of a turboprop should consider stepping up to this 2005 Piper PA-46-500TP Malibu Meridian, which is available for $995,000 on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

Jonathan Welsh is a private pilot who worked as a reporter, editor and columnist with the Wall Street Journal for 21 years, mostly covering the auto industry. His passion for aviation began in childhood with balsa-wood gliders his aunt would buy for him at the corner store. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JonathanWelsh4

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