The New Piper Aircraft, Inc., delivered its 200th Malibu Meridian in an April 1st ceremony highlighting the sale of Serial Number 200 to Don and Jane Lockhard of Ontario, Canada. This is the second Meridian and the fifth PA-46 for the Lockhards, who have also owned two Piper Mirages and a Piper Malibu.

The Malibu Meridian (file photos, below), Piper's top-of-the-line aircraft, is a single-engine turboprop, with a 500 SHP engine, Flight Into Known Icing (FIKI) approval, and an all-glass cockpit. Certified by the FAA in 2000, the Piper Meridian's uniquely stylized turbine inlets and exhaust stacks, four-bladed propeller and sleek fuselage make it instantly recognizable and speak to the aircraft's stellar performance characteristics, including maximum cruise power of 262 kts and maximum altitude of 30,000 feet.

"All of us at Piper truly value loyal customers like the Lockhards," said New Piper President and CEO Chuck Suma. "They appreciate our traditions and legacy and recognize that quality, safety and performance have long been the hallmarks of Piper, the PA-46 family of aircraft and - its flagship - the Meridian."

Piper delivered the first retail Meridian in November 2000 and broke new ground by featuring cockpit technology and capabilities previously only found in expensive business jets.

"Since the Meridian's debut," said Molly Martin Pearce, New Piper's Director of Dealer Relations & Sales, "Piper has improved on an already terrific aircraft by increasing its gross weight capacity, enhancing the interior for more head and leg-room in the cockpit, upgrading the autopilot and battery systems, and redesigning the fuel systems to allow more flexible operations in cold-weather, among other product enhancements."

Don Lockhard took delivery of his new Meridian with Solly Capua, dealer and owner of Aviation Unlimited, located at Toronto Buttonville Airport outside of Toronto, Canada, after completing advanced training provided by Piper as part of the total Meridian sales package.

FMI: www.newpiper.com