Piper PA-47 PiperJet: Difference between revisions

{|{{Infobox aircraft begin

|name = PA-47 "PiperJet" <br> PiperJet Altaire

|caption = The prototype PA-47 "PiperJet" at [[Sun 'n Fun]] in Lakeland, Florida, in April 2009

|national originnational_origin = [[United States]]

|first flightfirst_flight = 30 July 2008<ref name="Piper30July2008PressRelease">{{cite webpress release|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=PiperJet Makes First Flight|url=http://www.newpiper.com/company/newsitem.asp?NewsID=125|titleurl-status=PIPERJETdead|location=Oshkosh, MAKESWI|publisher=[[Piper FIRST FLIGHTAircraft]]|date=30 July 2008|archive-07-30url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090121004614/http://newpiper.com/company/newsitem.asp?NewsID=125|accessdatearchive-date=2008-0721 January 2009|access-date=30 July 2008}}</ref>

|status = CancelledCanceled

|primary userprimary_user =

|more usersmore_users =

|number builtnumber_built = 1

|unit cost = ${{AircraftCost|USA|2.199M (in 199|m|year=2006 [[USD]])|r=3}}

|developed fromdeveloped_from =

|variants with their own articles =

|developed intodeveloped_into =

The '''Piper PA-47 "PiperJet" ''' was a single-engined [[very light jet]] (VLJ) that was intended to be developed and built by [[Piper Aircraft]]. However, following a change of ownership at Piper, it was decided to redesign the aircraft intoas the '''PiperJet Altaire'''. Despite being technically successful, the Altaire project was cancelledcanceled in October 2011 due to economic conditions. The aircraft is the first proposed single-engined civilian aircraft with a [[podded engine]] located on the tail.

The PiperJet was announced in October 2006, as a competitor to the twin-engined [[Eclipse 500]] and [[Cessna Citation Mustang]]. The aircraft's fuselage was the same cross section as the propeller-driven [[Piper PA-46]] series, with a four-foot{{convert|4|ft|m}} increase in length.<ref name="AOPA2010AOPAPiperHeavilyRevampsPiperJet">{{cite webnews|urllast1=Marsh|first1=Alton K.|title=Piper heavily revamps PiperJet|url=http://www.aopa.org/nbaa/2010/101019piperjet.html|title url-status= Piper heavily revamps PiperJet dead|accessdate = 2011-07-12|last =July Marsh2011|first publisher=[[Aircraft AltonOwners K.and |authorlinkPilots Association|AOPA]]|date=18 |yearOctober 2010|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20101023031503/http://www.aopa.org/nbaa/2010/101019piperjet.html|month archivedate=23 October 2010}}</ref> It was to be capable of carrying up to 7 passengers and cruise at {{convert|360|kn|km/h|1}}, at a maximum altitude of {{convert|35000|ft|m|1}}. Maximum range was expected to be {{convert|1300|nmi|km|1}}, with a full-fuel payload of 800 pounds. Piper selected Williams International to supply its [[Williams FJ44|FJ44-3AP]] [[turbofan]] engine for the PiperJet.<ref name="Piper9Nov2006PressRelease">{{cite webpress release|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Piper Selects the Williams FJ44-3AP to Power the Revolutionary PiperJet|url=http://www.piper.com/company/newsitem.asp?NewsID=70|titleurl-status=PIPER SELECTSdead|publisher=[[Piper THE WILLIAMS FJ44-3AP TO POWER THE REVOLUTIONARY PIPERJETAircraft]]|date=9 November 2006|archive-11-09url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929065237/http://www.piper.com/company/newsitem.asp?NewsID=70|accessdatearchive-date=29 September 2007|access-04-date=29 April 2007}}</ref>

Due to the engine's being mounted above the [[Center of gravity (aircraft)|center of gravity]], power was ''[[Flight dynamics|highly stabilizing]]'' (addition of power would push the nose down), which could have been disconcerting to pilots. Initially, Piper designers incorporated an automatic pitch trim system to coordinate [[Tailplane|horizontal stabilizer]] [[Angleangle of incidence#Aviation (aerodynamics)|angle of incidence]] with power setting.<ref name="FlyingNov2008">{{cite magazine|date=November 2008|title=PiperJet Flies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U2peXmT62AUC&pg=PA23|department=Airways|magazine=[[Flying (magazine)|Flying]],|publisher=[[Hachette Vol.Filipacchi 135 IssueMedia 11, pU. S.]]|volume=135|issue=11|page=23,|issn=0015-4806|access-date=19 "PiperJetAugust Flies"2016|via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> This system was later replaced by a [[thrust vectoring|vectored thrust]] nozzle, developed by Williams International, which resulted in reduced weight and simplified manufacturing processes.<ref name="AOPANozzleMutesPiperJetPitchChanges">{{cite webnews|last1=Haines|first1=Thomas B.|title=Nozzle mutes PiperJet pitch changes|url=http://www.aopa.org/oshkosh/oshkosh09/articles/090728piperjet.html|titleurl-status=Nozzledead|accessdate=17 mutesAugust PiperJet2009|publisher=[[Aircraft pitchOwners changesand Pilots Association|AOPA]]|date=2009-07-28 July 2009|accessdatearchiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925162930/http://www.aopa.org/oshkosh/oshkosh09/articles/090728piperjet.html|archivedate=25 September 2009-08-17}}</ref>

A design feature of the aircraft was the use of a "straight duct air intake" design for the [[vertical stabilizer]] (tail) mounted engine, similar in engineering design concept to a [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10]], rather than the [[s-duct]] arrangement of most [[trijet]] aircraft designs such as the [[Dassault Falcon 900]].<ref>[httphttps://books.google.com/books?id=bEdWAAAAMAAJ&q=s-duct&dq=s-duct&pgis=1 "The Aeronautical Journal"]. Royal Aeronautical Society. 1974, pp. 392, 398. Retrieved 2008-12-11</ref>

A selling price of [[United States dollar|US$]]2.199 million in 2006 dollars was initially set and as of February 19, 2007, Piper announced that it had received 180 pre-orders. An entry-into-service date of early 2010 was initially anticipated, later changed to 2011-12. In October 2009 the company indicated that it had delayed the delivery of the first customer aircraft to mid -2013 and had informed depositors.<ref>''Business Aviation'', February 19, 2007</ref><ref name="Avweb28Oct09AVwebPiperPushesJetProductionToMid-2013">{{cite webnews|last1=Grady|first1=Mary|title=Piper Pushes Jet Production To Mid-2013|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/PiperPushesJetProductionToMid2013_201414-1.html|title = Piper Pushes Jet Production To Mid-2013 |accessdate = 2009-10-29|last =October Grady2009|first publisher= Mary AVweb|authorlink date=28 |year =October 2009|month = October}}</ref>

The PiperJet did not enter production and in October 2010 Piper announced it would instead develop an aircraft with a larger circular-section fuselage known as the '''Piper PiperJet Altaire'''.<ref name="AOPA2010AOPAPiperHeavilyRevampsPiperJet"/><ref name="flightFlightglobalPiperReinventsItsPersonalJetWithAltaire">[http{{cite news|last1=Croft|first1=John|title=Piper reinvents its personal jet with Altaire|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/articlesnews/2010/10/19/348465articles/nbaa-piper-reinvents-its-personal-jet-with-altaire.html-348465/|accessdate=19 NBAA:October Piper2010|publisher=[[Flightglobal]]|date=19 reinventsOctober its personal jet with Altaire]2010}}</ref> The 160 customers who had placed orders for the PiperJet retained their delivery positions with the new aircraft and at the same $2.2 million price.<ref name="flightFlightglobalPiperReinventsItsPersonalJetWithAltaire" />

Based on the [[Piper PA-47 PiperJet|PA-47 PiperJet]] prototype, the Altaire featured a slightly larger fuselage with a rounded [[Multiview orthographic projection#Cross-sectionSection|cross-section]], and included a conventional [[control yoke]] for flight control, as opposed to the original PiperJet's [[side-stick controller]].<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/10/19/348465/nbaa-piper-reinvents-its-personal-jet-with-altaire.html NBAA: Piper reinvents its personal jet with Altaire]<name="FlightglobalPiperReinventsItsPersonalJetWithAltaire"/ref>

Piper had been tooling up its facilities in Vero Beach, Florida (USA) to build four Altaire prototypes to be used for FAA (safety & performance) certification of the aircraft through 2013. First delivery of aircraft to customers was scheduled for 2014.<ref name="ainonline1AINonlineNewAndImprovedPiperJetMorphsIntoPiperAltaire">[{{cite news|last1=Harrison|first1=Kirby J.|title=New and improved PiperJet morphs into Piper Altaire|url=http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/singlebusiness-news-pageaviation/article2010-10-18/new-and-improved-piperjet-morphs-into-piper-altaire-26861/|accessdate=20 AviationOctober International2010|publisher=AINonline|date=18 News:October New and improved PiperJet morphs into Piper Altaire]2010}}</ref> The first flight was expected in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|urlname=http:"FlightglobalPiperReinventsItsPersonalJetWithAltaire"//www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/10/19/348465/nbaa-piper-reinvents-its-personal-jet-with-altaire.html|accessdate=2010-10-20|title=NBAA: Piper reinvents its personal jet with Altaire}}</ref>

The fuselage of the original Piperjet was designed using the Piper Meridian single-engine turboprop as a template. The new owners of Piper, "Imprimis", found fault with this design prompting a revision without direct reference to the Meridian. According to Piper CEO Geoffrey Berger, "We wanted to give our jet customers an even roomier light jet that incorporates a scalable design, paving the way for a future family of competitive business jets,".<ref name="ainonline1AINonlineNewAndImprovedPiperJetMorphsIntoPiperAltaire"/> The new fuselage design provided an additional 4&nbsp;inches of headroom and nine more inches of elbow room and does away with a "hump" in the cabin floor that accommodated the wing spar in the old design.

The Altaire would have been powered by the [[Williams International]] [[Williams FJ44|FJ44-3AP]]. This model of engine employs a "passive vectored thrust" design that helps compensate for nose-down pitch of the aircraft when power is increased as a result of mounting the engine relatively high up in the tail. Piper estimated that this engine would get the Altaire up to a {{convert|35,000|ft|m}} maximum cruise altitude and a 320 knot cruise speed. Maximum cruise speed was projected to be 360 knots. The aircraft was expected to have a {{convert|1200|to|1300|nmi|km|adj=on}} non-stop range.

The aircraft was expected to retail for around US$2.6 million, 'standard' equipped. Piper estimates variable operating cost at about US$730 per hour. This compares with about US$870 for the comparable model Cessna "Mustang".

== Cancellation ==

On 17 October 2011 the company announced that the PiperJet Altaire program was "under review". Piper's new interim CEO, appointed that same day, Simon Caldecott said, "This is being undertaken to ensure the company is properly aligning business goals and light-jet market forecasts with investment strategies and economic forecasts." The next day, on 18 October 2011, AVweb editor-in-chief Russ Niles called for the project to be ended, calling it "unrealistic" to pursue the design in the face of [[Federal Aviation Administration]] opposition to [[type certificate|certifying]] a single engined jet to {{convert|35000|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} and the lack of economic reasoning as the aircraft would cost the same as most twin-engined jets. Niles called on Piper saying, "the sooner it ends its "review" of the project and puts a bullet in it the better."<ref name="AVweb17Oct11AVwebAnotherNewCEOAtPiper"> {{Citecite news|last1=Grady|first1=Mary|title=Another New CEO At Piper|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/AnotherNewCEOAtPiper_205590-1.html|title = Another New CEO At Piper|accessdate = 20 October 2011|last publisher= GradyAVweb|first date=17 Mary|authorlink = |year =October 2011|month = October| work = AVweb}}</ref><ref name="AVweb18Oct11AVwebAltaireADatedConcept"> {{Citecite news|last1=Niles|first1=Russ|title=Altaire A Dated Concept|url = http://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/Altaire_Dated_Concept_205596-1.html|title = Altaire A Dated Concept|accessdate = 24 October 2011|last publisher= NilesAVweb|first date=18 Russ|authorlink = |year =October 2011|month = October| work = AVweb}}</ref> On 24 October 2011, despite the Altaire's development being "on schedule and on budget", the program was indefinitely suspended by Piper due to economic issues, with the company laying off a number of workers who had been assigned to the project.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/region_indian_river_county/vero_beach/205-to-lose-jobs-after-piper-decides-to-mothball-altaire-jet-program-|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120132015/http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/region_indian_river_county/vero_beach/205-to-lose-jobs-after-piper-decides-to-mothball-altaire-jet-program-|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 20, 2012|title=205 to lose jobs after Piper decides to mothball Altaire jet program|last=Schneider|first=Mike|coauthorsauthor2=The Associated Press |date=October 24, 2011|publisher=WPTV Channel 5|accessdate=24 October 2011|location=West Palm Beach, FL}}</ref> It was stated the company would entertain offers for the PiperJet/Altaire project.<ref name="AINChadAINonlinPiperJetAltiareProgramSuspendedIndefinitely">{{cite webnews|last1=Trautvetter|first1=Chad|title=Piperjet Altaire Program Suspended 'Indefinitely'|url=http://www.ainonline.com/?q=aviation-news/2011-10-24/piperjet-altaire-program-suspended-indefinitely|titleaccessdate=Piperjet24 AltaireOctober Program Suspended ‘Indefinitely’2011|lastpublisher=Trautvetter|first=ChadAINonline|date=October 24, 2011|publisher=AviationOctober International News|accessdate=2011-10-24}}</ref>

In 2012, the prototype was located at the [[Florida Air Museum]].<ref name="FlightglobalFloridaAirMuseumIsRestingPlaceForPiperJet">{{cite webnews|lastlast1=Croft |firstfirst1=John|title=Florida Air Museum is resting place for PiperJet|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/as-the-croft-flies/2012/04/florida-air-museum-is-resting-place-for-piperjet.html |titleurl-status=Floridadead|accessdate=16 Air Museum is resting place for PiperJet -July 2012|work=As Thethe CroftCro(ft) Flies |publisher=[[Flightglobal.com ]]|date=5 April 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802203325/http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/as-the-croft-flies/2012/04/florida-05 air-museum-is-resting-place-for-piperjet.html|accessdatearchivedate=2 August 2012-07-17}}</ref>

|ref=Piper Aircraft<ref name="Specs">{{cite web|url = http://piperjet.piper.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021082426/http://piperjet.piper.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-10-21|title = Specifications|accessdate =10 November 2009-11-10|last publisher= [[Piper Aircraft]]|authorlink date= |year = undatedn.d.}}</ref><ref name="Avionics">{{cite web|url = http://piperjet.piper.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021082426/http://piperjet.piper.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-10-21|title = Piper selects garmin avionics for the piperjet|accessdate =15 November 2009-11-15|last publisher= [[Piper Aircraft]] |authorlink = |year date=September 2007|month = September}}</ref>

|crew=1 or 2 pilots

|wing loading kg/m2=

* [[Cirrus SJ50 Vision SF50]]

{{reflist|30em}}

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081021082426/http://piperjet.piper.com/ Official Website]

{{Piper aircraft}}

[[Category:Abandoned civil aircraft projects of the United States]]

[[Category:Single-engined jetsjet aircraft]]

[[Category:Abandoned civilLow-wing aircraft projects]]