Page 24 - June 2015 Volume 19 Number 6

22 • TWIN & TURBINE
JUNE 2015
Gill Battery Third Page 4/C Ad
On April 14, 2015, Piper Aircraft unveiled the newest addition to its esteemed M-Class line, the M600, a 600-horsepower, cabin-class single- engine turboprop. The Piper M600 is a significant product advancement, featuring a newly-designed wing, the most sophisticated Garmin avionics technology available, and a redesigned, luxurious interior. The M600 is the first single-engine turboprop to feature Garmin’s G3000 avionics – a touchscreen- controlled glass flight deck.
The M600 seats six and is powered by a 600-shp version of the Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42A engine. To be available by the end of 2015, the aircraft is expected to match the M500’s maximum cruise speed of 260 knots, and will have a payload of 1,200 pounds. The new wing, while similar in span to the M500’s, will provide a fuel capacity of 260 gallons, versus the M500’s 170 gallons, allowing a maximum range of 1,300 n.m., compared to 1,000 n.m. for the M500. The M500’s radar pod under the right wing will be changed to one mounted on the wing’s leading edge.
“Our customers and dealers asked for an aircraft with more payload and additional range,” said Piper President and CEO Simon Caldecott. “We listened and we delivered. The M600 encompasses the most advanced safety measures available today in the most ambitious package, with an overall value proposition that is extremely compelling to corporate flight departments and individuals alike.
“With the advent of the M600, we have given our customers an option to travel nonstop from New York to Florida with added peace of mind afforded by the latest and most advanced safety enhancements,” added Caldecott.
The G3000 avionics suite is the most sophisticated Garmin
technology available and offers the most comprehensive, intuitive, and technologically advanced package on today’s market. With the G3000, the mechanics of flight deck management are easier and more efficient by design. Integrating control of various radios, audio and intercom channels, transponder codes, checklists, charts, mapping, flight plan entry and other functions, the Garmin GTC 570 touchscreen controller provides a centralized point of access for the majority of all avionics tuning, selection, and data inputs.
The M600 interior features ergonomically-designed, aesthetically-styled seats, which have been optimized for comfort. Enhanced side panels were developed for improved passenger interface. Additionally, three new color palettes have been thoughtfully created with the customer in mind. A comprehensive survey process helped identify the features and attributes that would be most appreciated by both pilots and customers.
Other major improvements for the M600 include a new digital pressurization system, which fully integrates with G3000, the Aspen EFD-1000 standby instrument, electroluminescent placards in cockpit, GTX 33 Extended Squitter Transponder, a centrally located single audio panel, USB charging ports in both the cockpit and the cabin, and an optional GTS 825 Traffic Advisory System, which coupled with the GTX 33ES, gives the aircraft ADS-B In and Out functionality. M600 aircraft are also offered with the optional Garmin GSR-56 Global Satellite Datalink Iridium Satellite Transceiver for added connectivity, making the M600 the ideal business aircraft platform.
The 2016 M600 is to have a list price of $2.825 million.
Continued on page 26
EN ROUTE
Piper Aircraft Launches New M-Class Product, The Piper M600