Piper trims M-class prices

With the new M600 making progress toward first deliveries and its place atop the Piper Aircraft product line, the company announced reduced prices on two of the less costly models in the lineup March 22.

Piper’s M500, a variation on the six-seat turboprop already in production with a 500-horsepower Pratt & Whitney PT-6A-42A, can now be had for $1.99 million, down from $2.26 million. The Matrix, powered by a turbocharged Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A, is now priced at $899,000, down from $939,950, the company announced. The M600, fitted with a 600-horsepower version of the Pratt & Whitney PT-6A-42A, will top Piper’s line at $2.85 million.

“Our goal was to create price spacing between the products that would support the optimal step-up structure as well as a seamless transition. Furthermore, the team spent a great deal of time developing equipment lists, options, and packaging to further differentiate each product within the M-class family,” Piper President and CEO Simon Caldecott said in the news release. “As part of our on-going product improvement initiatives, we saw an opportunity to provide our customers the best value proposition for each product while differentiating each aircraft in the lineup. This approach gives the customer a reason to step-up from one M-class product to another as their needs and experience dictates.”

The M-class rollout in May marked a significant upgrade in Piper’s offerings for the high end of the turboprop single market, and the M600 is designed to compete for a place in corporate fleets. The company reported March 18 that the FAA has issued type inspection authorization, a key step toward eventual certification that marks the beginning of FAA flight test evaluation. The certification program was delayed to the third quarter by design adjustments required to deliver on the promised maximum operating speed of 250 knots calibrated airspeed. Legacy Flight Training will be the official training provider for M600 customers. Legacy Flight Training LLC, based, along with Piper, in Vero Beach, Florida, was established to provide initial and recurrent training for all Piper aircraft.

In other M-class news, Piper recently announced supplemental type certificate approval of a five-blade composite propeller by Hartzell, available as a factory option on the M500.