Photography by Jan Morgan
Collection Gift Guide: The Pied Piper
December 1, 2005
With the 500 hp PT-6 turbine engine running and the avionics powered up, it
takes about two minutes for the Avidyne system to initialize its GPS and
stabilize the gyro displays. A quick run-up procedure checks the prop controller
and safety systems. Pushing the power lever provides powerful, vibration-free
thrust from the PT-6. Rotation is called for at 85 knots, and the Meridian lifts
with light control pressure. Once the landing gear and flaps retract, the
125-knot best-rate-of-climb speed is established, giving 1,500 fpm. Lowering the
nose for better visibility, I accelerated to 145 knots for a climb rate of 1,000
fpm in the summer heat. This performance can be expected all the way to a cruise
altitude of 25,000 feet without exceeding the turbine engine’s temperature
limits, an advantage of the understressed powerplant.
The Avidyne system displays operational and navigational data in high resolution. (
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Click image to enlarge.)The large, high-resolution Avidyne display panels carry all flight instrument information and the engine’s power setting. The center screen can be configured to display any combination of engine gauges, or show the pictorial moving map for navigation, along with the appropriate radio frequencies. During the flight, the Situational Awareness System chirps verbal call-outs for air traffic, heading, altitude, and terrain clearance. The comprehensive system monitors all aspects of the flight.
My first aircraft was a Piper Cherokee, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the familiar Piper virtues of stability and solid instrumentation in the sophisticated Meridian, which also continues the tradition of being easy to trim and hand fly for long periods.
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