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19 Mar 2024, 00:16 [ UTC - 5; DST ]


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 Post subject: Upgrade: Meridian or King Air C90
PostPosted: 16 Nov 2019, 19:33 
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Joined: 10/23/19
Posts: 18
Post Likes: +9
Location: 18AZ
Aircraft: 2001 Piper Meridian
300+ hour total time pilot, IFR, complex, just got my multi engine, but 285+ hours are in Cirrus 22s. We have a Cirrus S22T and based in Scottsdale AZ. Looking to move up summer 2020. I've flown our CIrrus as far as Arkansas and Texas multiple times and have plenty of IFR time. The past year I have flown over 125 hours. Wife is not current but is also has 300+ hours Multi, IFR, Commercial rated, so currently, best co-pilot ever :) She's happy being the non-current co-pilot at this point. Currently fly the Perspective but learned in the Avidyne/Garmin 430s/650s.

Mission: 75% less than 500 miles (So Cal, Central Cal, Vegas, Colorado), 2-3 people. 2-3 trips a year at 800nm (KSDL to AUSTIN TX or MEDFORD OR) with my wife and I. 2-3 trips a year greater than 1000 nm miles so making a stop no matter what (2-4 people for business trips). Plan to fly atleast 125 hours per year.

My initial plan was another 75+ Cirrus hours and 25+ Multi hours then move to a Mustang. Insurance quotes killed that idea in 2 minutes.

Insurance: Have spoken with our insurance agent, so the Meridian and C90/F90 are both doable.

Speeds: definitely want 255-260 knot cruis so would be looking for a C90 with -135s (or potential F90).

Budget: Like to stay in the $850K-$900K range. This eliminates the TBM 700C2 which would otherwise be on the short list.

Desires:
King Air with -135s, Garmin 600 with Garmin 750 preferred.
Gross Weight increase Meridian with Garmin 500s, Garmin 750s. Avidyne with Garmin 650s is doable also just not preferred.

I understand that other than pressurized and turbine, these are both totally different aircraft. If I have 2-3 years of King Air time, moving to a Mustang or some CJ in a few years would be much easier with the insurance requirements. King Air is a lot of airplane for 1 or 2 people. Meridian is much cheaper to fly and operate. Its single engine so the transition is less time but I love training, so not worries there. Both would work for our mission.

I have flown in both over the past 3 weeks.

What should I do and why?

Thanks,
Patrick


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 Post subject: Re: Upgrade: Meridian or King Air C90
PostPosted: 16 Nov 2019, 19:46 
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Joined: 11/04/13
Posts: 211
Post Likes: +173
Company: USMCR
Location: Ardmore, OK
Aircraft: PA-46T, B100, Tiger
I love my Meridian. It has the G950 which is the non-original G1000. I moved in to it around 400 hours total time, so fairly similar to you and the transition was a non-issue. For your missions it can't be beat.

I just picked up a B100 King Air with a partner but haven't trained in it yet. I'm keeping the Meridian as the KA is too big to haul myself and girlfriend or even me and the 3 young ones around.

I think you'd be really happy with a Meridian and would have a hard time justifying the purchase and operating cost of an upgrade in a couple of years with your given missions.


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 Post subject: Re: Upgrade: Meridian or King Air C90
PostPosted: 16 Nov 2019, 19:46 
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Joined: 08/16/15
Posts: 2848
Post Likes: +3525
Location: Ogden UT
Aircraft: Piper M600
The Meridian is a lot less money to own and operate, easier to fly l, and seems to meet your mission pretty well. Also think it is faster than a C90 in the real world, but maybe that is airframe dependent.

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Chuck Ivester
Piper M600
Ogden UT


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 Post subject: Re: Upgrade: Meridian or King Air C90
PostPosted: 16 Nov 2019, 20:33 
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Joined: 10/23/19
Posts: 18
Post Likes: +9
Location: 18AZ
Aircraft: 2001 Piper Meridian
Thanks guys. Do you typically fly your Meridians at FL250 to FL280? I've been told the C90s like FL200 to FL240 alot better than higher.


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 Post subject: Re: Upgrade: Meridian or King Air C90
PostPosted: 16 Nov 2019, 20:48 
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Joined: 08/16/15
Posts: 2848
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Location: Ogden UT
Aircraft: Piper M600
I fly 260-280 almost exclusively except on short flights. Following the power tables, the Meridian flies basically the same speed between FL220-280. About 260 KTAS real world. The only thing that changes is cabin altitude is higher and fuel flow is lower at higher altitudes. So the only reason to fly lower than 260 is being on a short flight or wanting a lower cabin altitude.

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Chuck Ivester
Piper M600
Ogden UT


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 Post subject: Re: Upgrade: Meridian or King Air C90
PostPosted: 16 Nov 2019, 20:52 
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Joined: 11/09/13
Posts: 174
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Location: Camarillo, Ca.
Aircraft: 2005 Meridian
Hi Patrick, the meridian likes higher for sure due to the economy. The Meridian enjoys a highly derated engine which allows torque to be the limiting power all the way to FL280 where as the C90 could become temp limited at a lower altitude making that the altitude where it would achieve max speed.


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 Post subject: Re: Upgrade: Meridian or King Air C90
PostPosted: 16 Nov 2019, 21:01 
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Joined: 06/28/09
Posts: 14119
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Location: Walnut Creek, CA (KCCR)
Aircraft: 1962 Twin Bonanza
I'd take the KingAir because I don't fit well in the Meridian. Also if your goal is to upgrade to a Mustang, the more multi-time the better. Meridian will cost less to run though and will probably be easier to sell.

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 Post subject: Re: Upgrade: Meridian or King Air C90
PostPosted: 16 Nov 2019, 21:46 
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I too love my Meridian. I was in very similar shoes with a similar budget last year. My mission is also similar. When I bought the Meridian I had thought I'd move to a CJ or Mustang within a couple years. Now I'm pretty sure if I move from the Meridian it will be to another SETP, most likely a M600. The turboprop is much better suited for my mission, the efficiency can't be beat, and the Meridian/M500/M600 is very simple and forgiving (important for 125 hour per year pilots like us). The only thing I'm left wanting for is either more fuel, more payload, or both on about half a dozen trips per year. For trips 200NM or more I'm always at FL270 or FL280.


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 Post subject: Re: Upgrade: Meridian or King Air C90
PostPosted: 16 Nov 2019, 21:56 
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Joined: 10/23/19
Posts: 18
Post Likes: +9
Location: 18AZ
Aircraft: 2001 Piper Meridian
Username Protected wrote:
I'd take the KingAir because I don't fit well in the Meridian. Also if your goal is to upgrade to a Mustang, the more multi-time the better. Meridian will cost less to run though and will probably be easier to sell.


I definitely understand the 'getting in part.' I thought I got stuck the first time just getting to the front. Once in, I'm 5'11" 165lbs so it was comfortable for me.


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 Post subject: Re: Upgrade: Meridian or King Air C90
PostPosted: 16 Nov 2019, 21:57 
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Joined: 10/23/19
Posts: 18
Post Likes: +9
Location: 18AZ
Aircraft: 2001 Piper Meridian
Username Protected wrote:
Hi Patrick, the meridian likes higher for sure due to the economy. The Meridian enjoys a highly derated engine which allows torque to be the limiting power all the way to FL280 where as the C90 could become temp limited at a lower altitude making that the altitude where it would achieve max speed.


What avionics do you have in your 05? JetAviva had a 2005 last year that I feel in love with but just wasn't ready yet.


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 Post subject: Re: Upgrade: Meridian or King Air C90
PostPosted: 16 Nov 2019, 22:00 
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Joined: 10/23/19
Posts: 18
Post Likes: +9
Location: 18AZ
Aircraft: 2001 Piper Meridian
Username Protected wrote:
I too love my Meridian. I was in very similar shoes with a similar budget last year. My mission is also similar. When I bought the Meridian I had thought I'd move to a CJ or Mustang within a couple years. Now I'm pretty sure if I move from the Meridian it will be to another SETP, most likely a M600. The turboprop is much better suited for my mission, the efficiency can't be beat, and the Meridian/M500/M600 is very simple and forgiving (important for 125 hour per year pilots like us). The only thing I'm left wanting for is either more fuel, more payload, or both on about half a dozen trips per year. For trips 200NM or more I'm always at FL270 or FL280.


What year is your Meridian and avionics? Very interesting about the next step potentially being another SETP. As a business owner with a CFO background, $ has to make sense. I wish the M600 (like many I'm sure), was what Piper released in 2001 with the range, speed and additional payload so I could buy it cheap today :)


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 Post subject: Re: Upgrade: Meridian or King Air C90
PostPosted: 16 Nov 2019, 22:02 
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Joined: 06/28/09
Posts: 14119
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Location: Walnut Creek, CA (KCCR)
Aircraft: 1962 Twin Bonanza
Username Protected wrote:
I'd take the KingAir because I don't fit well in the Meridian. Also if your goal is to upgrade to a Mustang, the more multi-time the better. Meridian will cost less to run though and will probably be easier to sell.


I definitely understand the 'getting in part.' I thought I got stuck the first time just getting to the front. Once in, I'm 5'11" 165lbs so it was comfortable for me.


I'm 6'4" 220 lbs. Meridian is muy no-bueno.
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 Post subject: Re: Upgrade: Meridian or King Air C90
PostPosted: 16 Nov 2019, 22:11 
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Joined: 08/23/10
Posts: 841
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Username Protected wrote:
What year is your Meridian and avionics? Very interesting about the next step potentially being another SETP. As a business owner with a CFO background, $ has to make sense. I wish the M600 (like many I'm sure), was what Piper released in 2001 with the range, speed and additional payload so I could buy it cheap today :)


I have an '06 with Avidyne and 650's. I've never flown behing a G1000 so take it for what it's worth, but I find the Avidyne/650 combo with a mini iPad on the yoke linked to a GDL52 to have all the information I could possibly need and very simple at the same time. The only thing I'm lacking is the integration.

I'm 6'3" and 210#s. You find a way to pour yourself in and out of the cockpit and after a few times it becomes a non issue. A little more headroom would be nice, though.

If your someone who looks closely at the economics and don't like to waste a buck you'll be very pleased with the Meridian. What I like best about the Meridian is that it is a serious travelling machine capable of pretty fast, long distance, all weather, pressurized comfort flights, but I also don't feel guilty playing around on the weekends flying touch and go's, or on my weekly 100NM milk run, or just taking the wife somewhere for lunch, etc.


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 Post subject: Re: Upgrade: Meridian or King Air C90
PostPosted: 16 Nov 2019, 22:30 
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Joined: 10/23/19
Posts: 18
Post Likes: +9
Location: 18AZ
Aircraft: 2001 Piper Meridian
Username Protected wrote:
What year is your Meridian and avionics? Very interesting about the next step potentially being another SETP. As a business owner with a CFO background, $ has to make sense. I wish the M600 (like many I'm sure), was what Piper released in 2001 with the range, speed and additional payload so I could buy it cheap today :)


I have an '06 with Avidyne and 650's. I've never flown behing a G1000 so take it for what it's worth, but I find the Avidyne/650 combo with a mini iPad on the yoke linked to a GDL52 to have all the information I could possibly need and very simple at the same time. The only thing I'm lacking is the integration.

I'm 6'3" and 210#s. You find a way to pour yourself in and out of the cockpit and after a few times it becomes a non issue. A little more headroom would be nice, though.

If your someone who looks closely at the economics and don't like to waste a buck you'll be very pleased with the Meridian. What I like best about the Meridian is that it is a serious travelling machine capable of pretty fast, long distance, all weather, pressurized comfort flights, but I also don't feel guilty playing around on the weekends flying touch and go's, or on my weekly 100NM milk run, or just taking the wife somewhere for lunch, etc.


Thanks so much for this info. The Avidyne Cirrus was way more intuitive and user friendly than the Perspective. It took me a good 15-20 hours to really get comfortable with the Perspective. The amount of information at the fingertips of the Ipad Foreflight and all of these GA systems today is amazing.

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 Post subject: Re: Upgrade: Meridian or King Air C90
PostPosted: 16 Nov 2019, 22:34 
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Joined: 01/30/09
Posts: 3341
Post Likes: +1945
Location: $ilicon Vall€y
Aircraft: Columbia 400
Username Protected wrote:
I'm 6'4" 220 lbs. Meridian is muy no-bueno.


Yeah, I don't fit it either. knees jammed into the lower panel with the seat all the way back.

That's what I liked about the SF50 Vision Jet. Very comfortable, does more or less the same job. And it has a parachute.


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