The FAA has granted Piper Aircraft a production certificate for its new M600 turboprop single, it announced on Friday. This move allows the Vero Beach, Fla. manufacturer to produce, flight test and issue airworthiness certificates for the M600 for customer deliveries.

“Being granted the production certificate is the latest in a series of milestones for this aircraft," said Piper Aircraft president and CEO Simon Caldecott. “In June, we received the type certificate for the M600. On July 12, our launch customers, veteran Piper owners Jerry and Jack Wardlaw, took delivery of the very first M600 off the production line.”

The $2.853 million M600 is a more powerful and updated version of the M500, with Garmin G3000 touchscreen-controlled avionics. Both share the same Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42A engine, but the M600’s is flat-rated to 600 shp, up from the M500’s 500 shp. The boost in power provides a significant increase in performance, and the M600’s final performance numbers showed improvements from the originally projected figures.

According to Piper, the M600’s maximum NBAA IFR range is 1,484 nm/2,748 km and max cruise speed rounds out at 274 ktas. The M600’s mtow is 6,000 pounds/1,179 kg, allowing for greater fuel capacity: 260 gallons versus the M500's 170 gallons. Full-fuel payload for the M600 is 645 pounds/293 kg.