A sale at NBAA Tuesday boosted orders for the New Piper turbine-powered Meridian to 138, of which 82 now are to retail buyers, Piper president Charles M. Suma said here Tuesday afternoon. Overseas sales account for 26 Meridians sold in ten countries.
"An uneventful flight test program is a good flight test program and the Meridian flight test program is proceeding as expected," Suma said. "We currently have four prototypes flying and one static test article comprising our certification test fleet."

The Meridian that was at the static display at PDK Airport Tuesday only, N402MM, will become the marketing demonstrator after testing and certification.

"Last year, I stood before you and promised I'd return this year with a flying Meridian prototype," Suma said. "Next year, we'll join you with a substantial fleet of Meridians in operation."
Turning to the introduction of a New Piper "sub-entry-level" jet, now under development, Suma said that it will not come about until the Meridian has "successfully and assertively entered the market." The mini-jet announcement will also be delayed until the company completes a rumored IPO.

"Under counsel of investment advisors, embarking on a jet project prior to going public may not be in the best long-term interest of the company," Suma said. "We have, therefore, deferred the jet until we can determine the ideal timing."

Envisioned is a four-place, lightweight jet aircraft to allow customers to move up from turboprop to jet without a significant increase in pilot skills, thus the term "sub-entry-level." Suma reported that the key market for the aircraft has been determined and the "time and cost to develop and certify the aircraft has been quantified--this last item, time and cost, is, by far, our greatest challenge in bringing our jet to market.

"Those who have not taken the 'time and cost' challenge of bringing a new jet to market seriously, those who have not planned carefully, have made promises they couldn't keep," he said. "These companies have launched grandiose promotional campaigns without undertaking the real challenge of building a real and certifiable aircraft, only to fail their industry partners and customers."