Entegra Release 9 Becomes Factory Option

Piper has clued ANN in on some more good news involving their PA46 series and one of the avionics industry's most innovative glass panel manufacturers... Piper Aircraft is adding Avidyne's Entegra Release 9 integrated flight deck system as an available avionics suite on the Piper PA-46 Meridian, Mirage, and Matrix aircraft.

"With the addition of the Entegra Release 9, Piper shows its commitment to providing our customers with the greatest choice of advanced avionics options available in today’s market place” said Piper President, John D. Becker. "The Entegra Release 9 system on our Meridian, Mirage, and Matrix aircraft gives customers an added avionics option and prospective buyers the ability to choose the aircraft and configuration that best matches their specific mission profile.”

"Piper has been a terrific partner of ours for many years and we are pleased to be making Entegra Release 9 available for the Piper PA-46 line," said Avidyne President Dan Schwinn. "Entegra Release 9, with its renowned ease of use, is specifically designed for single-pilot IFR operations, making it a perfect fit for this class of aircraft."

Piper Matrix w/R9 Integrated Flight Deck

You've heard it all before from us, folks, since ANN upgraded our SR22 G3 Turbo over 100 hours ago and we're STILL blown away... R9 utilizes a fully-modular architecture that includes high-resolution IFD5000 displays, dual-redundant FMS900w systems with a QWERTY keypad, next-generation fully-digital 16-watt VHF NAV/COM radios, and dual WAAS/RNP-capable GPS receivers. Release 9's innovative Page & Tab user interface makes it a breeze to quickly access data without delving into hierarchical menus, pop-up windows or hidden modes. 

Piper Meridian w/R9 Integrated Flight Deck

Designed with a fully-redundant architecture, each IFD5000 is fully capable of performing the functions of the other with no unfamiliar or limited reversionary modes. With Entegra Release 9, Avidyne claims to have developed 'a truly integrated system that is specifically designed to eliminate complexity, reduce head-down time, provide a whole new level of redundancy, and dramatically enhance safety.' That isn't hype, folks... we fly it almost every day and we KNOW they're not kidding.

Certification of the Entegra Release 9 suite for the Piper Matrix is expected to be completed in the second half of 2010. Certification of Entegra Release 9 for the Mirage and the Meridian are expected in 2011.

Still, Piper tells us that you can have MOST of it right now... since customers who purchase an Entegra-equipped Meridian, Mirage or Matrix now will receive an upgrade voucher that locks in the Entegra Release 9 upgrade price at $50,000-redeemable upon certification-representing a significant value for PA-46 owners.

FMI: www.piper.com, www.avidyne.com, www.release9.com