July 26, 2000, OSHKOSH, WI - The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. has five aircraft on display at EAA's Air Venture 2000, beginning today, representing its diverse product lines of single and twin engine aircraft. Featured as part of this year's exhibit are New Piper's Malibu Mirage, Seneca V, Saratoga II TC, Archer III and Warrior III. Also highlighted prominently is a fully equipped mock-up of the new Malibu Meridian single-engine turboprop aircraft.

A demonstrator Meridian, currently heavily engaged in the final certification process for the aircraft and therefore unavailable to be released for EAA's Air Venture 2000 show, will debut shortly after FAA certification. This demonstrator Meridian will be featured at aviation industry events later this fall.

The first totally new aircraft developed by New Piper since it was established in 1995, the Meridian is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42A turboprop engine producing 500 shaft horsepower and represents New Piper's return to the realm of turbine-powered aircraft. The Meridian is capable of delivering speeds up to 267 knots (approximately 300 mph), can climb to an altitude of 25,000 feet in just 17 minutes, and can carry up to six people to a cruising altitude of 30,000 feet.

The 3½ year Meridian development and certification program has involved four flight test articles, representing over 1500 flight test hours, one static test article subjected to hundreds of hours of rigorous testing, almost 100 engineering personnel and over 800 manufacturing and tooling personnel to achieve this milestone.