Airplane deliveries at Piper Aircraft (Static SD12, Booth Y65) increased by more than 13 percent year-over-year—to 25 aircraft—in the first quarter, while aircraft sales revenue soared by more than 60 percent, to €21 million ($23.4 million), the Vero Beach, Florida-based company announced last week. These figures reflect “strong demand” for Piper’s new M600 turboprop single, which is making its EBACE debut this week.

“Piper's performance in the first quarter gives us a good start on the year and is an encouraging indicator of demand for Piper products. It also continues the upward trend that we saw in 2016,” said Piper president and CEO Simon Caldecott. The company’s billings climbed by 26 percent last year.

Deliveries of M-class airplanes—the Matrix and M350 piston singles, and M500 and M600 turboprop singles—were level with the six shipped in the first three months of last year, but the addition of the M600, with three handed over in the latest quarter, “drove revenue up significantly,” Piper said. “We expect M600 sales growth during 2017 as aircraft demonstration tours continue and international type certifications are achieved.”

In other news, the new Hartzell five-blade composite swept-tip propeller received FAA supplemental type certification for the M600 on May 9. Designed specifically for the turboprop single, the propeller features a stainless steel shank, nickel cobalt leading edge, and mesh erosion screen for FOD protection. The five-blade composite propeller is now offered as a Piper factory option on new M600s.