2012 Piper Meridian: Flight to Harris Ranch, CA 

Thanks for the message!

Hey Patrick. I’m an owner of an SR 22t and dreaming of stepping up to a turboprop is the future. How have the operating and maintenance costs compared?

@@davidbrcka Hi Dave - with the Cirrus, it felt like I was aways fixing something. Our plane was available for rent in a small fleet with other Cirrus pilots so I flew it about 150 hours a year and total usage from rentals was another 100-150 hours. Over 3 years, I felt like I spent a small fortune. Waste gate valves, AC compressor, turbos, brakes, top overhaul, you name it, I did it. With the Meridian, year 1, I went Pre Buy to Annual (12 months) with no other services or AOG events. This year, I had one AOG event where the left main gear seal went out and fluid was on the ground. Had that fixed in my hangar from High Performance Aircraft in CA within 48 hours. Otherwise, expect to (and hope to) make it to this years annual without another service. I plan on $25K a year for maintenance and so far its been accurate. I maintain this aircraft like our Cirrus, open checkbook. If it is recommended, I do it. There are so many less parts in the Turbine that makes it so much more reliable. My wife is also a pilot (not current in the last 15 years) but didn't feel comfortable in the Cirrus on longer summer or winter trips in the Cirrus. With the meridian, we take it everywhere except a recent trip from AZ to Puerto Rico for a wedding. Too much Atlantic under the plane and huge headwinds home for a 3 day trip. The Meridian will feel like you are in a different world as an owner pilot. Pressurization, FL 280 (or 300 with RVSM), Turbine, 260+ knots, and you can still take it 80 miles for a hamburger with Friends and not feel guilty. I haven't looked back once.

@@patrickjones1614 thanks so much for the detailed reply. Sounds like I need to step it up in the next couple years!

@@patrickjones1614 AWESOME! I have an SR22 and my plane has been in the shop for 2 months with no end in sight dealing with parts shortages. I'm dreaming of the Miridian! I hope to step up soon!

Thank you! Very cool to have the Saratoga that long!

Thanks. Great airplane!

Thanks - Meridian and Ken made that runway look easy!

@@FlyingwithRich btw Harris 3O8 here is 2820 ft x 30 ft, 30 feet wide yikes!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thanks for watching!

Thank you!

Thanks. F33A Bonanza coming up!

Agree!

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for watching!

Thank you!

Will do - thank you!

Thank you.

Very cool!

LOL, turboprops do exceptionally well on short fields. Many Meridians have landed at Harris Ranch.

Harris Ranch fly's their PC-12 in and out of there routinely. I fly in about once every couple months. I use to fly a Seminole there. Its narrow but very open and doable. Now in just a 172. Still a great place. Show your pilots license and get 10% off your meal.. very cool!!

John Harris used to have a pro flown King Air and a T210 for himself. PC-12 replaced the KA, not sure about the T210.

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thanks 👍

Have fun!

Your right - we screwed that up! There will be another one!

room upfront is not too bad. But you'll have serious problems hopping over the spar to get in the seat.

Not true! You can smell it all too well from the air! Perhaps not for as long.

Thanks. Flying Eyes!

A lot depends on you build. We had a client who was 6’4” who did fine but shorter client didn’t like the fit. 6’1” I think should be fine.

@@FlyingwithRichthank you!! I've never minded the contortion to get into seats... I hate bumping my Clark's though it's just annoying lol

Have not flown an Aerostar or had one on the channel.

Mustang will do it. Likely weight restricted on take-off, but certainly doable in the Mustang.

😯

Would love to fly it!

@@FlyingwithRich I'm going to contact them.

more like $1,000 steaks 😀

Well, Rich did not get a 103, but did get a motorcycle instead to keep busy doin something. A friend just bought a 1964 C-150 so get to keep flying at some level, right seat. The reason for having to give up flying had a major heart attack( over 40% of heart mussel died ) and had a triple bypass surgery and can not pass the physical obviously. Still active and wanted something fun to do. Keep life interesting and keep going. Enjoy all your videos.

G3000 avionics vs G1000 as well.

@@FlyingwithRich Wow, do your customers find that to be worth the extra $1m in MSRP? I would be curious about the take rate they get beween those 2 models. I dont have the money to buy one, but I would pay for a flight next time you are up in the SF Bay area with anything.

Piper delivered 41 M600s and 9 M500 (Meridians) in 2022 so seems like the preference is pretty clear! Send me an e-mail and we’ll try to connect when I make it up there again.

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I think the benchmark for the Meridians is 260 lbs/hr (40GPH) at FL260 and 260 KTAS.

I forgot about that!