Tenth M-Class Single To Be Sold In Europe This Year

Building on a robust first half of 2012 in Europe, Piper Aircraft Inc. and Winters Aviation sold the tenth new M-Class single-engine aircraft for delivery into the continent this year. The latest transaction, involving a M-Class Meridian single-engine turboprop, was completed this past week during the Salon de l'Aviation Générale de Cannes at Cannes-Mandelieu Airport (LFMD). The new Meridian will begin service with a business owner in Spain later this year.

Standard equipped list price for a Piper Meridian is $2,133,650. M-Class aircraft include the turboprop Meridian, pressurized piston-engine Mirage and unpressurized piston Matrix. "This is the first new Meridian sold into Spain in quite some time and is certainly the first 2012 Meridian sold to a customer in Spain," said Piper Director of Marketing and Communications Jackie Carlon, who represented Piper at the event. "Winters Aviation, our authorized new aircraft dealer in this part of the world, consummated the sale during the Cannes show."

Piper's emphasis on its M-Class series, including the Meridian, at the Cannes exhibition reflects a growing trend in Europe toward new, more fuel-efficient business aircraft. With this latest sale, the company will deliver a total of 10 M-Class single-engine aircraft to retail customers in Europe this year. Three Meridians have been delivered in France so far in 2012. "We have seen a spike in M-Class sales in Europe this year as buyers replace less fuel efficient twin-engine airplanes due to higher fuel costs," said Peter Winters, General Manager of Winters Aviation. "With Piper M-Class turboprops and piston-powered airplanes, buyers keep their cabin-class travel options and yet they enjoy economical operations." (Pictured: Enrico Evers, Regional Director of Sales - Europe, Karin Verbinnen and Peter Winters of Winters Aviation with a 2012 Meridian at the Cannes AirShow.)

FMI: www.piper.com