Piper Meridian vs Piper Mirage
Climbing the PA-46 ladder, the Mirage and the Meridian mark the line between piston and turbine. Both are pressurised, six-seat Piper singles on the same cabin-class airframe — but the Mirage runs a 350-horsepower Lycoming piston, while the Meridian carries a Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprop. It is the classic question of piston economy versus turbine dependability, in one airframe. See where each sits on the used market, and in what numbers, below.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
- For sale now
- 103
- Median asking
- $1,284,291
- Range
- $830,903–$2,305,000
- Model years available
- 1985–2026
- For sale now
- 49
- Median asking
- $592,500
- Range
- $399,000–$977,140
- Model years available
- 1989–2014
Live data from AeroGurus, aggregated daily across the used-aircraft market. Figures are current asking prices, not appraisals — confirm with a pre-buy inspection.
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Piper Meridian | Piper Mirage |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $830,903 – $2,305,000 | $399,000 – $977,140 |
| Category | Single Engine Turboprop | Single Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 6 | 6 |
| Horsepower | — | 350 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 241 kts (446 km/h) | 213 kts (394 km/h) |
| Range | 1,000 nm (1,852 km) | 1,345 nm (2,491 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) | 1,230 lbs (558 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 170.0 gal (643 L) | — |
| Fuel Burn | 35.0 GPH (132 L/h) | 20.0 GPH (76 L/h) |
| TBO | 3,500 hrs | — |
| Overhaul Cost | $300,000 | — |
| Annual Fixed | $100,000 | — |
| Hourly Variable | $650 | — |
| Engines | 1 x Turboprop | 1 x Piston (Turbocharged) |
Cost of Ownership
EstimatePiper Meridian
Piper Mirage
Which Should You Buy: Piper Meridian or Piper Mirage?
Bottom line: Choose the Mirage to keep piston economics — lower acquisition and fuel costs and the familiarity of a high-output piston single, in a pressurised cabin that flies above much of the weather. Choose the Meridian for the turbine step: a PT6A brings the smoothness, reliability and simplicity turbine owners prize, plus a useful speed gain. The safety-relevant trade is the engine itself — a turbine's proven dependability against a turbocharged piston's heavier management and more failure modes — set against the Meridian's higher cost and a tighter useful-load and CG envelope. In the end it is the economy of a piston, or the dependability of a turbine.
Pick the Meridian if…
- Faster cruise — 241 kts vs 213 kts.
- More inventory — 101 listings vs 53.
Pick the Mirage if…
- Budget matters — from $399,000 vs $830,903, you save ~$431,903.
- Longer range — 1345 nm vs 1000 nm.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.