Get FinancingPiper Aircraft’s M350 & M500 FAA-Certified For Garmin G1000 NXi Avionics
Leading piston and turboprop aircraft manufacturer Piper Aircraft has announced FAA certification of Garmin’s next-generation G1000 NXi Integrated Flight Deck for Piper’s single-engine M500 turboprop and single-engine M350 pressurized piston aircraft, both members of Piper’s M-Class of business aircraft along with the single-engine M600 turboprop. Piper will offer the flight deck later this year as a retrofit option (via Supplemental Type Certificate) for fielded M350, M500, and Matrix aircraft equipped with Garmin’s G1000 avionics suite.
More Upgrades Coming
Headquartered in Vero Beach, Florida, Piper also offers Seneca V, Seminole, Warrior, Archer TX, Archer DX, and Arrow aircraft for business, personal, and training purposes. Controller.com has numerous Piper Aircraft for sale.
Piper also announced that it will upgrade the Seneca V with the G1000 NXi platform with deliveries of upgraded models set for late 2018. In a statement, Simon Caldecott, Piper Aircraft president and CEO, said the introduction of next-generation G1000 avionics in the M500 and M350 will continue to enhance the models’ “value leader” position in the market. “NXi-equipped M-class products are now being delivered as we continue our focus on completing the NXi STC for fielded G1000 equipped M-class products,” he said.
Similar in physical appearance to the G1000 version, the G1000 NXi version touts faster processing speed (thanks to a move from single-core to dual-core processors), which provides enhanced map rendering and smoother panning through the displays. The NXi version also features brighter, smoother HD displays; wireless cockpit connectivity; enhanced situational awareness; and optional SurfaceWatch, Flight Stream 510, and improved ADS-B options.
The M500 & M350
The six-passenger M500 sports a 500-shp (shaft horsepower) Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42A turbine engine and supports a max takeoff weight of 5,092 pounds (2,310 kilograms), max range of 1,000 nm (1,852 kilometers), max cruising speed of 260 KTAS (482 km/h), and 30,000-foot (9,144-meter) max approved altitude. The aircraft has a 43-foot (13.11-meter) wingspan and measures 29.6 feet (9.02 meters) long and 11.3 feet (3.44 meters) high.
The M350, meanwhile, includes a 350-horsepower turbocharged Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A engine and supports a 4,340-pound (1,969-kilogram) max takeoff weight, 1,343-nautical mile (2,487-kilometer) range, 213 KTAS (395 km/h) max cruising speed, 2,090-foot (637-meter) takeoff distance, and 25,000-foot (7,620-meter) max approved altitude. The aircraft sports a 43-foot (13.1-meter) wingspan and measures 28.11 feet (8.6 meters) long and 11.4 feet (3.4 meters) high.
Source: Piper Aircraft