Piper Meridian vs Piper M350
The Piper M350, M500 and M600 are the modern PA-46 series — M350 is the pressurised piston turbocharged (~213 kt); M500 (formerly Meridian, ~262 kt) is the entry turboprop with PT6A-42A; M600 (~274 kt with PT6A-42A and longer wing) is the current flagship turboprop with Garmin G3000. The M500 and Meridian are the same aircraft — Piper renamed the Meridian to M500 in 2015.
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Piper Meridian | Piper M350 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
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| Price Range | $738,946 – $2,613,432 | $599,000 – $2,098,059 |
| Category | Single Engine Turboprop | Single Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 6 | 6 |
| Horsepower | — | 350 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 241 kts (446 km/h) | 200 kts (370 km/h) |
| Range | 1,000 nm (1,852 km) | 1,343 nm (2,487 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 30,000 ft (9,144 m) | 25,000 ft (7,620 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 5,092 lbs (2,310 kg) | 4,340 lbs (1,969 kg) |
| Useful Load | 1,362 lbs (618 kg) | 1,220 lbs (553 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 170.0 gal (643 L) | 120.0 gal (454 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 35.0 GPH (132 L/h) | 18.0 GPH (68 L/h) |
| TBO | 3,500 hrs | 2,000 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | $300,000 | $35,000 |
| Annual Fixed | $100,000 | $22,000 |
| Hourly Variable | $650 | $200 |
| Engines | 1 x Turboprop | 1 x Piston (Turbocharged) |
Cost of Ownership
EstimatePiper Meridian
Piper M350
Which Should You Buy: Piper Meridian or Piper M350?
Bottom line: Choose the M350 for pressurised piston operations at the lowest M-series operating cost. Step up to the M500 (Meridian) for turboprop reliability and ~50 kt more cruise. Step up again to the M600 for the longest-range, modern Garmin G3000 and the most capable PA-46 — each step adds materially higher acquisition and per-hour cost.
Pick the Meridian if…
- Faster cruise — 241 kts vs 200 kts.
- More inventory — 109 listings vs 38.
Pick the M350 if…
- Budget matters — from $599,000 vs $738,946, you save ~$139,946.
- Lower operating cost — ~$200/hr vs $650/hr.
- Longer range — 1343 nm vs 1000 nm.
- Newer design — production from 2015 vs 2000.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.