• Piper's next generation turbo-prop will remain a mystery until just before Aero 2015 in Friedrichshafen.
    Piper's next generation turbo-prop will remain a mystery until just before Aero 2015 in Friedrichshafen.
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Piper Aircraft has announced that a Next Generation of M-class turbo-props will be revealed on 13 April, just in time for the AERO 2015 general aviation exhibition in Friedrichshafen.

Speculation in the global GA industry is that the launch at Vero Beach will include unveiling a new turbo-prop capable of taking the battle to it's nearest rivals.

Sharp-eyed commentators have noticed that in February, Piper registered the trademark "M600" as an aircraft. If convention is followed, we can expect the new machine to have a 600 SHP PT-6A turbo-prop in the front, which will mean it will become the new flagship of the M-class range.

The M500 Meridian, announced only in January, is powered by a 500 SHP turbo-prop, which gives it a max cruise of 260 KTAS. That is comparable with the PC-12's 270 KTAS, but the Piper doesn't have the seat capacity of the Pilatus. Both aircraft fall well short of the 330 KTAS max cruise of the TBM 900.

Going to a larger turbo-prop would give Piper a performance leap that could be attractive to the single-engine turbo-prop market.

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