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 Post subject: Buying a Meridian...must-haves, and must-avoids?
PostPosted: 17 Nov 2019, 18:48 
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Joined: 04/08/12
Posts: 173
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Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Aircraft: Cessna 414A
I'm thinking of downsizing from my C414A to a Meridian, likely a 2010 or older. I haven't done much homework yet, so I'll humbly ask the BT Braintrust:

1) Amongst those older Meridians, what are some must-have features?

2) And what are some must-avoid gotchas?

Thanks all!

-Ted


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 Post subject: Re: Buying a Meridian...must-haves, and must-avoids?
PostPosted: 17 Nov 2019, 19:06 
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Joined: 08/16/15
Posts: 2867
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Location: Ogden UT
Aircraft: Piper M600
Would make sure the borescope and magnesium inlet are in good shape. Make sure the heated windscreen passes Pipers most recent specs. On the early G1000s make sure there is an easy ADSB upgrade path. Some versions are easier than others to ADSB and apparently Nxi retrofits are in the works but haven't heard the timeline. Of course early early you want the GW increase to 5135 lbs. would recommend a prebuy in a PA46 specific shop. There are some things that probably would get missed in your standard shop. Good deals on Avidynes as long as you believe in the company. Piper really came out with minor improvements pretty much every year so a 2005 is quite different from a 2008 from a 2010, from a 2012, to an early versus late 2015. So I would get the newest airframe you can afford in the best shape. Even the G1000’s have non swappable software and hardware versions along the lineage. That is the downside/upside of an innovative company. My 2019 M600 is substantially different from my 2017, and the 2020 much different from my 2019. Like trying to keep up with iphones ;)

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Chuck Ivester
Piper M600
Ogden UT


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 Post subject: Re: Buying a Meridian...must-haves, and must-avoids?
PostPosted: 17 Nov 2019, 20:00 
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Joined: 07/08/11
Posts: 417
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Location: KHPN
Aircraft: E55
Can you list the significant differences among the M600's?


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 Post subject: Re: Buying a Meridian...must-haves, and must-avoids?
PostPosted: 17 Nov 2019, 20:14 
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Joined: 08/16/15
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Location: Ogden UT
Aircraft: Piper M600
The biggest updates outside of custom paints and interiors, include the Nxi version of the G3000 in late 2019 with some software and hardware upgrades like the GWX75 radar, with expanded color pallette and terrain suppression. Then of course Autoland and autothrottles in 2020. Some nice features as well such as upgrading to the FS510, and in there the ability to display Sirius and ADS-B weather side by side. Lots of little things, but the Nxi, GWX75 radar and autoland, are substantial.

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Chuck Ivester
Piper M600
Ogden UT


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 Post subject: Re: Buying a Meridian...must-haves, and must-avoids?
PostPosted: 17 Nov 2019, 20:29 
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Joined: 04/08/12
Posts: 173
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Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Aircraft: Cessna 414A
Charles, thanks for your detailed reply above.

What's the annual database cost to keep your panel current?

-Ted


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 Post subject: Re: Buying a Meridian...must-haves, and must-avoids?
PostPosted: 17 Nov 2019, 21:28 
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Joined: 08/16/15
Posts: 2867
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Location: Ogden UT
Aircraft: Piper M600
We use Jepp, and have all the databases, Nav Data, safe taxi, AOPA airports obstacles, terrain, charts for the Western Hemisphere from Alaska, Canada down to Mexico, and Latin America. That is $1230 last year, and there is a Malibu M-class MMOPA discount that helps. Was a LOT more than that online, but I called Jepp directly, and they helped me negotiate the best rate. I think it was about 2/3rds the cost for 3 times the coverage.

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Chuck Ivester
Piper M600
Ogden UT


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 Post subject: Re: Buying a Meridian...must-haves, and must-avoids?
PostPosted: 17 Nov 2019, 21:41 
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Joined: 11/08/12
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Location: Jackson, MS (KHKS)
Aircraft: 1961 Cessna 172
1) Join MMOPA. The $250 is worth it

2) The very early meridians have some weird stuff. Not awful, but lots to know. 2003 and later have most of those kinks worked out. The original Meggit avionics are not well regarded and used to be really hard to support but the world is awash in cheap spares since the G500 came around.

3) Avidyne panel meridians may be your sweet spot

4) Join MMOPA


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 Post subject: Re: Buying a Meridian...must-haves, and must-avoids?
PostPosted: 17 Nov 2019, 21:41 
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Joined: 11/19/15
Posts: 1400
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Company: Centurion LV and Eleusis
Location: Draper UT KPVU-KVNY
Aircraft: N45AF 501sp Eagle II
Chuck pretty much summed it up.

Personally I think the best value is a early G500 GTN750 panel in a plane with the gross weight increase. Really easy to upgrade and great to fly behind. Lots of those birds for well under $1M.

And like Chuck said make sure to get a good pre buy from a PA 46 expert. That’s huge.

Mike

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 Post subject: Re: Buying a Meridian...must-haves, and must-avoids?
PostPosted: 17 Nov 2019, 21:42 
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Joined: 10/23/19
Posts: 18
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Location: 18AZ
Aircraft: 2001 Piper Meridian
Through all of my research, this is what I have found.

GW increase was standard in 2004. Prior to that, many planes had it added. I believe Cutter had the STC on it and was told its around $75K to add.

In 2004, they increased front head and legroom by 2.5". Haven't checked this out personally but have been told that on a few I called on.

Definitely the pilot heated windshield. I was told replacing that is about $32K currently.

Charles - can you confirm the Fuel Temp Guage and/or limit of -34 degrees C?


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 Post subject: Re: Buying a Meridian...must-haves, and must-avoids?
PostPosted: 17 Nov 2019, 22:20 
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Joined: 11/08/12
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Location: Jackson, MS (KHKS)
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Username Protected wrote:

GW increase was standard in 2004. Prior to that, many planes had it added. I believe Cutter had the STC on it and was told its around $75K to add.
?


I believe the GW Increase was standard in 2003 with many 2002 models delivered with it. Chuck?


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 Post subject: Re: Buying a Meridian...must-haves, and must-avoids?
PostPosted: 18 Nov 2019, 07:49 
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Joined: 01/09/09
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Didnt some have turbine inlet corrosion issues?


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 Post subject: Re: Buying a Meridian...must-haves, and must-avoids?
PostPosted: 18 Nov 2019, 08:33 
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Joined: 05/23/08
Posts: 6059
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Location: CMB7, Ottawa, Canada
Aircraft: TBM - C185 - T206
Get a TBM.

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Former Baron 58 owner.
Pistons engines are for tractors.

Marc Bourdon


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 Post subject: Re: Buying a Meridian...must-haves, and must-avoids?
PostPosted: 18 Nov 2019, 09:43 
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Joined: 11/07/11
Posts: 721
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Location: KBED, KCRE
Aircraft: Phenom 100
TBM’s should drop sharply in price now that Epic is certified.

Chip-


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 Post subject: Re: Buying a Meridian...must-haves, and must-avoids?
PostPosted: 18 Nov 2019, 10:03 
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Joined: 04/05/10
Posts: 1165
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Company: C-Star Inc
Location: 16FL Florida & T67 Texas
Aircraft: J35, N14DF
Taken from a Meridian I was flying yesterday on the way back in to KMOB.
Flew it 6.6 hours yesterday.
In my opinion it is a great single pilot turboprop that is laid out in a manner to ease pilot work load.
As most planes of this size, you can choose people in the seats, or fuel in the tanks, but you can’t expect to fill both.


Please login or Register for a free account via the link in the red bar above to download files.


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 Post subject: Re: Buying a Meridian...must-haves, and must-avoids?
PostPosted: 18 Nov 2019, 10:26 
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Joined: 05/05/09
Posts: 4946
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Aircraft: G44, C501, C55, R66
Can someone chime in on the Meridian who has owned a 3000 hour plus airframe. The ones I looked at all had structural repairs in the door area and the flaps from what I'd call normal use. Is the airframe robustly constructed or is it a Piper Paper Product?


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