I think Charles is onto something. The only reason I ever heard of the wrinkled wings was because I was looking for a 2001 model and there were several that had been for sale for a long time. Quite candidly it was anecdotal from two leading Malibu mechanics, so maybe it isn't a big issue.

I saw one that I was looking at that had a wing replaced from another airframe. Small two line log book entry. No reason. I also saw one model that had a severe turbulence inspection. Never actually encountered a wrinkled wing.

YMMV. Just get a good pre-buy.

-jason

When I looked at the Mirage; the wrinkled skin did come up. I have no idea if true, but when I asked the Piper sales rep he stated it was caused by the way the wing was designed. The spar and ribs where designed to flex, but not the skin. As a result if you take the plane close to its certification limits (e.g. 3+G) the wing skin will wrinkle but there is no danger of failure at this point.

Tim

That makes sense.

I installed a G meter in my plane and have never seen it get anywhere close to that. I can't imagine what it must take to hit that.

I have G meter in my Duke, and I can tell you that when I get into what I describe as moderate or more, I've never exceeded 2 g's positive. The kind of turb that hits the head on the roof, and the earcups of the headset are around your neck. I like having the G meter. Gives you a reference of what you're experiencing.

Mine makes me feel like wimp, but I am okay with that. Exactly the same experience as Brent. I can't imagine the kind of turbulence you would get into that would actually move be classified as severe or extreme according to the G meter.

I'm not Jason but I posted an example just above, here it is again http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief ... 152&akey=1

Mike:

I may be wrong, but I think the jetprops still have the yellow arc.

I suspect many of the early meridian issues where caused by pilots that could afford the aircraft but not the capability. It is what gave the malibu a bad rap for a while and earned the Bo a ban moniker too. Just because you can afford it, doesn't mean you should be flying it.

I heard a malibu pilot on the radio yesterday when going to SDL that I wanted to get violated. He was IFR and got into a fight with ATC. It was incredulous. He was cleared BLH PXR destination (which was KDVT). After being told 3 times what his clearance was, and accepting it, he was silent for 10 minutes. Then he was asked by ATC where he was headed and he said direct to KDVT. ATC informed him he was cleared BLH then Phoenix. He responded, but I am going to Deer Valley Airport, not PHX. A big fight ensued about the difference between the VOR and the Airport, to which he responded, I have GPS I am flying direct. The controller, "No sir you are not, you are cleared to BLH then PHX, then destination". He finally complied, then got into it with the next sector about descending, not answering radio calls, etc. Scariest IFR pilot I have ever seen. I hope he got written up and gets a visit from the FAA, and I have never, ever, ever, wished that upon someone. He will kill someone, if not himself. But, he was flying a fast machine.

-jason

Jetprops do not have the yellow arc. Their redline is much lower than the piston PA46 redline (and 10ish knts lower than the Meridian redline).

I have not heard to Jetprops with wrinkled wings, only Meridians.

I don't think I like any "wrinkled wings"...........would make me nervous!

This! It makes the yellow band a WHOLE lot less scary. I've never exceeded 2.5 G's during any maneuvering or turbulence (even in the yellow band) in my Bo.

I wonder if his pressurization controller failed without him noticing it.

Or maybe he is just old and stubborn.

Florian:

I'm thinking old and stubborn....

I'm not sure what you are getting at on the Meridian vs JetProp as far as the airframe part goes. They are both the exact same plane essentially. The biggest difference is that Piper added wedges to the wings to hold more fuel and had to increase the size of the tail for stall characteristics because of the negative effects that wing wedge created.

If I was choosing between the two, I'd go with the JetProp every time. The engine that Piper chose for the Meridian IMO was where they went wrong. If they would have chosen the same one Rocket did for the JetProp they would have a winner. Instead they have had a history of oil pump issues (I forget the exact reasoning but it has to do with the engine they chose). I wouldn't want to be flying a Meridian and wondering in the back of my head if my pump is going to go out while I'm in mid flight.

The JetProp is every bit as fast as the Meridian if not faster and does it on less fuel burn, better rate of climb, etc.

As far as the rear cabin heat goes, Rocket came up with a fix for that in the JetProp so that isn't as much of an issue any more.

That's a perfect mission for a TN36

The Meridien is no bigger inside than a Bonanza so what's the point?

More comfortable sure, but safer is debatable. The engine is much more reliable sure, but a Bo is a stronger airframe. A TP Bo is safer than a Meridian IMO. Biggest downfall is no pressure.

My next jump for me from my TP Bo is a TBM. The Jetprop/Meridian doesn't do anything that I cannot do in my current plane. The TBM is a whole different animal.