See inside these propeller planes used to fly to business meetings, holidays in the Alps, or for training pilots
ThelifeThe Piper M600/SLS.Abby Wallace/Insider
- These Piper propeller planes are used on flights to business meetings and by holidaymakers.
- I toured three models on display at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition.
The M600/SLS is Piper's flagship jet and the most expensive of the models I visited, at $3.3 million.
The Piper M600/SLS. Abby Wallace/Insider.
The model — alongside the M350 and M500 — is part of the company's "M Class" that are all pressurized, a representative for Piper told Insider.
The Piper M600/SLS. Abby Wallace/Insider.
The jet can cruise at altitudes of 30,000 ft.
The Piper M600/SLS. Abby Wallace/Insider.
Inside, the aircraft was compact but spacious enough for six people. A small cargo hold was situated at the back of the plane.
Inside the M600/SLS. Abby Wallace/Insider.
The seat pairs faced each other, while each seat also featured charging ports, cup holders, and earphone plugs.
Inside the M600/SLS. Abby Wallace/Insider.
The plane can travel for 1,658 nautical miles, with a maximum cruising speed of just over 500 kilometers an hour.
The Piper M600/SLS. Abby Wallace/Insider.
Because of its speed, people often use the planes to travel between cities for business meetings, a representative told Insider. Around half of those who use the planes for business travel fly themselves.
Inside the M600/SLS. Abby Wallace/Insider.
People also use them as recreational jets to travel across Europe, because the pressurized cabin means the plane can cruise at high altitudes over mountainous areas like the Alps.
The Piper M600/SLS. Abby Wallace/Insider.
The M350 was structured similarly to the M600. Families often choose the model for leisure travel, a Piper representative told Insider.
The Piper M350. Abby Wallace/Insider.
There are about 1,000 of the propeller planes in operation. Like the M600, the M350 also seats six people and has a pressurized cabin.
The Piper M350. Abby Wallace/Insider.
Inside, the plane was configured in the same way as the M600.
Inside the Piper M350. Abby Wallace/Insider.
The aircraft has a maximum range of 1,343 nautical miles and can travel for at least five hours, according to the Piper representative.
Inside the Piper M350. Abby Wallace/Insider.
The aircraft is significantly cheaper than the M600 and would set you back $1.3 million.
The Piper M350. Abby Wallace/Insider.
The final Piper jet I toured was the smallest of the suite on display, the Archer LX.
The Piper Archer LX. Abby Wallace/Insider.
The jet is the company's most basic plane, which people often use to train and get a pilot's license.
The Piper Archer LX. Abby Wallace/Insider.
The cabin doors were much smaller, and while I didn't get to sit inside the plane, I could see the cabin was less spacious and not as tailored for leisure travel like the others.
The Piper Archer LX. Abby Wallace/Insider.
Only four people can fit inside the plane. The seats all face forward and makes it less sociable.
The Piper Archer LX. Abby Wallace/Insider.
There is one advantage: the plane is significantly less expensive than the others, at just under $500,000.
Inside the Archer LX. Abby Wallace/Insider.
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