New Piper Aircraft rolled out the first single-turboprop Malibu Meridian on 13 August. "We're on time, we're under budget and we're moving," said chairman Chuck Suma at the roll-out at Vero Beach, Florida. Initial runs have been completed on the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42A engine and a first flight is expected before the end of the month. Four prototypes are planned and certification is scheduled for July 2000. Piper holds orders from dealers for 90 of the $1.3 million business aircraft.
Source: Flight International
