See why I stay off the Cirrus threads!

See why I stay off the Cirrus threads!

A lot of the debate is around if there is a market for a plane which is roughly in capability matching a Jetprop or M500 with a bit more speed.

Based on Piper's investment in the PA46 line, I think there is a market for such a plane.

The next question would be, why does Piper not sell more of them?
I think a lot of this is perception, the PA46 looks, feels and seems to be a "bigger" plane. The SF50, although very close in size, does not have an air stair door, is not as tall... This is a very significant part of the emotional appeal, this plane is focused on local/regional flyer and has the same level of presence. While the PA46 looks and feels more like a plane to fly across the country (no it cannot do that, but the plane "feels" like it can).

In many ways, the one I saw years ago looked/felt like a slightly larger SR22.
The next piece of the puzzle is how Cirrus focused on the transition aspect of the existing fleet of Piston aircraft. Switches in similar spots, same system types....

Overall, I think it will be a hit for a specific market segment. My question is if the market segment is big enough to sustain the fleet; or will the "taste" of jet power make the owners want to move up? Based on the market analysis stuff Cirrus has leaked (intentional or not), Cirrus believes there is a large market, question is if they can educate enough customers to sustain it.

Tim

turn that around - if the malibu line were a little smaller then you would know that everywhere you went you could find a place to get under roof out of the hail. That's worth a lot to some people. the cirrus jet will fit in any hole that you can tow a C172 out of

A JET with a CHUTE and a very comfortable interior - for less money.

Who thinks their wives and families, or husbands, or whoever, would choose the Meridian, given the choice between the two?

The plane is in it's own class - and that class is the one that has been most obviously desirable for regular (wealthy) GA families and utterly empty until now.

I've rarely seen a more obvious hit, in any field.

not just the passengers, the driver too. I've never seen a cirrus jet in person but the pictures make it appear than a non-gymnast can get in and out of the driver's seat, something i can't say about the malibu

Very easy boarding.

The Lear that augered in at TEB last week had flown one revenue leg that day: BED-->PHL

If you look at the flightaware listings for HEF, BED, PDK or TEB, there are plenty of business flights in that range.

Exactly. Not to mention quieter, smoother... and it's a JET. Burn a little more fuel but on the other hand no prop to maintain and overhaul. This isn't a Citation killer, it's a Meridian killer.

love this photo

Excuse me? Why the hostility?

I am trying to impart the understanding of turbojet flight planning to piston think. Some of us have been trying to do that on and off on this thread.

Still seems to be a lot of misunderstandings about turbojet fuel burns, reserves, and flight planning.

Excuse me? Why the hostility?

I am trying to impart the understanding of turbojet flight planning to piston think. Some of us have been trying to do that on and off on this thread.

Still seems to be a lot of misunderstandings about turbojet fuel burns, reserves, and flight planning.

Lighten up Arlen and take that as a humorous comment about Mike C's absences on BT.

It is a cool plane with it's limitations. Correcting inaccurate FP assumptions is not denigrating the aircraft.

Some lurkers here may. And maybe those lurkers expect some folks with relevant experience to separate the fantasy from the reality of flying a turbojet.

Roger that.

Then this is an Internet thing.

I wasn't trying to be hostile, and you were trying to be humorous....and we both missed those nuances.

Cool plane with its (well described) limitations -- we are in agreement, even on the Internet.