Looking for fast cars and even faster airplanes backed by splendid design, breakthrough engineering and legendary heritage? Then the place to be is Palm Springs, Calif., Oct. 10-14 for the Ferrari Club of America’s annual meeting.
Sure you will see all manner of Ferrari classics on display, but you will also see a cabin and cockpit mockup of Piper Aircraft’s M-Class single-engine turbine-powered Meridian. This is the second consecutive year that Piper has exhibited at the annual Ferrari Club of America meeting.
Appreciation of Classics
“Both the Ferrari and Piper names conjure basic emotions among their many admirers,” says Drew McEwen, Piper Head of Global Sales and Business Development. “Ferrari drivers and Piper drivers share deep appreciation for exquisite design, superb quality and exhilarating performance, and we always have a great time together.”
Piper and its dealers Keystone Aviation and Cutter Aviation will have sales and marketing representatives at the meeting to talk about the Piper lineup of high-performance and economical airplanes. As McEwen says, “The annual Ferrari meeting is an excellent venue to showcase Piper airplanes with a group that appreciates design and performance.”
Every year since 1964, the Ferrari Club of America (FCA) has held an annual meet in or near a major city in North America. It is a multiday, national event held in a different location every year, close to a renowned road-racing track.
The focal point of every FCA Annual Meet is the North American Field and Driving Concours, which is recognized as one of the most important annual gatherings in the world for the display and evaluation of Ferrari automobiles.
Ferrari-oriented Events
In addition to the Concours, FCA Annual Meets feature a Driver Development Track Event, both Competitive and Pleasure Rallies and many social events. Members and their families can renew old acquaintances and make new friends from across the U.S. and Canada who share a common interest in the Ferrari automobile.
Specific events include:
- The FCA North American Field and Driving Concours
- Competitive Rally and Pleasure Drive
- Driver Development Drivers School and Track Event
- Historic Challenge Race
- Technical Seminars, Mercato di Ferrari (shopping venue), Banquets and Receptions
Piper and Ferrari – Performance and Design Excellence Compared
| 2013 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta | 2012 Piper Meridian | |
| Engine | 6.3-liter V-12 | PT6A-42A gas turbine |
| Power | 730 hp | 500 hp (shaft) |
| Torque | 508 lbs @ 6000 rpm | 1,330 lbs in climb |
| Drive | Rear-wheel | Propeller |
| Maximum Altitude | Limited | 30,000 feet |
| Length x Width x Height | 181.8 in x 76.5 in x 50.1 in | 355.2 in x 516 in x 135.6 in |
| Curb Weight | 3,363 lbs | 5,092 lbs |
| 0-62 mph | 3.1 seconds | Doesn’t really matter |
| Top speed | 211 mph (est) | 299.5 mph (confirmed) |
| On Sale | Late 2012 | Now |
| MSRP | $250,000 (est) | $2,133,650 (confirmed) |
About the Meridian
The Piper Meridian is a single engine turboprop that seats six with club-seating. It is powered by the P&WC PT6A-42A 500 shp engine and has a 260 KTAS / 482 km/h max cruise speed and a range of 1,000 nm / 1,885 km. The standard equipped list price is $2,133,650, equipped with the Garmin G1000 avionics suite.
About the Ferrari Club of America
The 5,000 members of the world’s largest Ferrari club, the Ferrari Club of America, enjoy exciting track events, an internationally recognized Concours d’Elegance and a wide variety of year-round social activities. With 16 active regions and 34 chapters throughout the U.S. and Canada, the organization maintains a full calendar of events.
Its Annual Meeting – with hundreds of Ferraris, hundreds more people, a Swap Meet, Concours, Rally, track event and banquets – draws participants and cars from around the world. FCA members receive the monthly News Bulletin with its calendar of events, free classified ads for members, F1 coverage, and more. The quarterly full-color magazine, Prancing Horse, contains in-depth features on particular Ferrari types, interviews with “Ferrari people,” visits to Ferrari-related production facilities and museums, information on Ferrari literature and models and coverage of Ferrari gatherings, all thoroughly illustrated with colorful photos and drawings.
About Piper Aircraft
Piper Aircraft, Inc. is headquartered in Vero Beach, Florida. A global force in aviation, Piper is an investment of the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Brunei. The company offers efficient single-engine and twin-engine trainer, personal and business aircraft. With economical acquisition and operating costs, Piper airplanes deliver the best value available today and into the future. Piper is a member of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
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Piper Aircraft
For further information, contact:
Jackie Carlon
Phone: (772) 299-2900
Fax: (772) 978-6585
Mail to: Jackie.Carlon@piper.com
piper.com
