In The Works: Piper PiperJet

It was no big secret before this year’s NBAA Convention that Piper would be announcing plans for a single-engine jet, and indeed Piper did unveil its PiperJet on October 17. At the time, Piper had not yet selected an engine manufacturer. Early last month at the AOPA Expo in Palm Springs, Calif., Piper revealed that a Williams International FJ44-3AP will power the PiperJet. The engine, a version of the FJ44-3A, will be derated to 2,400 pounds of thrust, down from a maximum thrust rating of 3,000 pounds. The engine will be mounted in the vertical stabilizer, which promotes better airflow through the engine compared to an engine embedded in the fuselage.

The six-seat PA-47-2400J PiperJet will sell for $2.2 million in 2006 dollars. Performance includes maximum cruise speed of 360 knots; mtow 7,000 pounds; 800-pound payload with full fuel; 1,300-nm range; and 35,000-foot ceiling. Piper expects to achieve first flight around April 2008 and  deliveries in 2010.