Piper M500 Meridian

The turboprop single built for modern avionics and cabin efficiency.

‘N500RU’ Piper PA-46 M500 Meridian © Dmitry

Overview

Piper United States ICAO: P46T 2014–Present Active $2.3 million (2018)

The Piper M500 Meridian is a single-engine turboprop introduced in the mid-2010s. It builds on the earlier Meridian platform with updated avionics. The aircraft targets owner-operators transitioning from piston aircraft.

Live Fleet Activity (P46T)

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Specifications

Units
Engine
1 × Pratt and Whitney PT6A-42A
Engine type
Turboprop
Power
500 shp · 373 kW
Avionics
Garmin G1000 NXi flight system
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
6
Crew
—
Cabin width
4 ft 1 in  ·  1.25 m
Cabin height
3 ft 10 in  ·  1.18 m
Cabin length
12 ft 3 in  ·  3.73 m
Exterior length
29 ft 6 in  ·  9.00 m
Tail height
11 ft 2 in  ·  3.40 m
Fuselage diameter
4 ft 6 in  ·  1.38 m
Wing span
43 ft 0 in  ·  13.10 m
Baggage volume
35 ft³  ·  1.0 m³
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
5,100 lb  ·  2,300 kg
Max landing weight
4,850 lb  ·  2,200 kg
Max payload
1,700 lb  ·  750 kg
Fuel capacity
170 gal · 600 L · 500 kg (Jet A)
Max cruise speed
260 kt  ·  299 mph  ·  482 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
70 kt  ·  81 mph  ·  130 km/h
Range
1,000 nm  ·  1,150 mi  ·  1,850 km
Fuel burn
14.60 nm/gal  ·  7.14 km/L
Ceiling
30,000 ft  ·  9,100 m
Rate of climb
1,500 ft/min  ·  8 m/s
Takeoff distance
2,450 ft  ·  740 m
Landing distance
2,100 ft  ·  640 m
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Piper M500

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Operational Context

Piper M500 Meridian — single-engine turboprop aircraft

The M500 entered service in 2015 as an evolution of the PA-46 Meridian. It features a low-wing configuration with retractable landing gear and an integrated glass cockpit. The design emphasizes operational simplicity and performance.

Powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprop engine producing approximately 500 shaft horsepower, the M500 cruises at around 260 knots (481 km/h). Maximum takeoff weight exceeds 5,100 pounds (2,313 kg). The cabin typically seats up to six occupants.

The M500 provides turboprop speed with single-engine efficiency. It remains in production as part of Piper’s M-series lineup. The aircraft is widely used for personal and business travel.