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Piper Aircraft unveiled a new model in its PA46 line Tuesday, the Piper M700 FURY. The M700 FURY is a single-engine, 700-shaft horsepower cabin-class turboprop, representing a new generation of the M-Class family.
The new aircraft is powered by the Pratt andamp; Whitney PT6A-52 engine, with a maximum cruise speed of 301 ktas and a max range of 1,149 nm while maintaining a Basic Med-compliant 6,000-pound MGTOW limit. With a 301-knot max cruise speed, the M700 FURY is the fastest single-engine aircraft in Piper's 87-year 134,000 unit production history and is the second fastest model of all time. The fast FURY is second only to the Piper Cheyenne 400LS turbine twin.
The M700 FURY has a class-leading TOFL distance over a 50-foot obstacle at SL with 1,994 feet. This is a 641-foot or 24 percent increase compared to the M600 SLS. The TOFL performance is 1,198 feet, or 38 percent, shorter than a competing single-engine jet. After the MGTOW departure, the new M700 boasts a 2,048 fpm climb rate. This class-leading climb rate is 32 percent better than the M600 it is replacing.
Once it settles into a climb, the FURY can reach a comfortable FL250 in 13.9 minutes, or 34 percent quicker than the M600. The M700 covers a 34-mile distance, or 35 percent less distance than before while burning 97 lbs of fuel. The new plan uses 25 percent less fuel than the M600 and almost 50 percent less fuel than a single-engine jet competitor. The M700 achieves a 26 percent reduction compared to the M600 for landing over a 50 ft. obstacle, or within half the ground roll distance of some competitors.
"The M700 FURY is a beautifully efficient, cross-country thoroughbred that gives our customers a performance-based flight experience with economics never seen before," Piper President and CEO John Calcagno said. "We listened, and we delivered. The M700 FURY encompasses power, performance and the most advanced safety measures available today and an overall value proposition that is extremely compelling to individuals and corporate flight departments alike."
There were changes to the airframe to accommodate the new, more powerful engine. These changes included a redesigned and more efficient intake plenum to improve ram air recovery, new engine mount assemblies and an enhanced exhaust stack design to maximize residual thrust. The M700 FURY features Garmin's G3000 avionics system, which has a touchscreen-controlled glass flight deck. The G300 avionics suite is the most sophisticated Garmin system available, offering an in-depth and technologically advanced package to customers. The G3000 system comes standard in the M700 FURY, as well as the HALO Safety System, including Garmin's Autoland technology, first certified on the M600/SLS.
This is the first time a PT6-52 engine has been used to power a single-engine turboprop. Pratt andamp; Whitney worked closely with Piper to integrate the engine's low-oil-level indicator, the first of such a device on a Piper aircraft.
"During our 55-year collaboration with Piper, we've had the privilege of powering some of the most successful single-engine turboprops in the industry," said Anthony Rossi, vice president of global Sales and Marketing at Pratt andamp; Whitney Canada. "The M700 Fury is an evolutionary addition to the Piper line-up that includes the PT6A-42A-powered M500 and M600 programs. In total, we have supplied Piper with 12 different PT6A engine models, delivering 3,100 engines to power more than 2,000 Piper aircraft."
"The Piper M700 Fury highlights the longstanding relationship between Piper Aircraft and Pratt andamp; Whitney, solidifying our commitment to delivering unparalleled products to our customers," Calcagno said. "The PT6A-52 engine in the M700 Fury retains its full 700 shaft horsepower up to 24,000 feet, giving the aircraft exceptional power at high altitudes."
The M700 FURY will still feature the Garmin PlaneSync technology, including a 4G LTE Cellular and WiFi datalink to enable avionics capabilities to streamline an aircraft owner's pre-flight and post-flight activities. Piper is the first to market with Garmin's remote aircraft status capability to allow owners to remotely check factors like fuel quantity, aircraft location, oil temperature, battery voltage, and the current METAR for the plane's location. PlaneSync technology will automatically download databases wirelessly while the aircraft is powered down and the owner is away.
There are six new interior schemes, featuring new seat styles and leathers, carefully crafted with the customer in mind. FAA certification is expected for the end of Q1 2024, and deliveries will start immediately after. International validations in Canada, EASA, the UK and Brazil are expected for the second half of 2024, with deliveries in those regions before the end of the year.