Quantcast

Piper Aircraft's attempt at private aviation: The rise and fall of PA-47 PiperJet

LA Considers $25 And $30 Minimum Wages For Hotel And Airport Workers
Airlines are on the hook for more than you think if something goes wrong with your trip
WA Labor & Industries plans to create new airline worker protections
Airlines must now give automatic refunds for significant delays. Here's what to know.
Spirit Airlines Pursues Bankruptcy as a Path to Tie-Up With Frontier
American Airlines fined $50M for violating disability laws
Canada's flight attendant union applauds NDP bill to end unpaid work in the airline sector
American Airlines testing new technology that would crack down on boarding
Exciting New Airline Routes Coming to North
Another city ignores airport commission's advice, zones for housing near JWA
United shares hit pre-pandemic high after airline forecasts strong finish to 2024, plans buyback
Alaska Airlines Just Made Its Loyalty Program Even More Lucrative With New Rewards, Better Upgrades, and More
Food safety problem closes Detroit airline kitchen leaving 200 flights without meals
5 Reasons Why Kazakhstan's Air Astana Is Establishing Itself As A Key Player In Asian Aviation
JetBlue is no longer serving hot food in economy class on transatlantic flights
Video shows traveler hurl computer monitor at Frontier employees in Chicago
White House 'in touch' with airlines as hurricanes Helene, Milton spark price-gouging fears
Airline bans two items from luggage amid conflict in the Middle East
Turkish Airlines pilot dies midflight, leading to emergency landing in New York
Spirit Airlines Explores Bankruptcy Filing
Airlines turn to AI to allocate gates and cut waiting times
American Airlines Passengers Save Woman from Alleged Violent Male Companion on Flight
Garuda Indonesia and Japan Airlines (JAL) Form Joint Business Agreement — What To Know
Here's how Southwest Airlines' new seating and boarding process will work
Delta Adds New Route to Asia
Southwest Airlines will begin selling assigned seats in 2025
United Airlines Pilot Buys Passengers Pizza In Albuquerque After Flight Was Delayed 7 Hours
Czech Airlines to Cease Operations, Ending 23-Year SkyTeam Partnership
An Asian airline hopes launching one of the world's longest narrowbody routes will actually be a comfort upgrade for passengers
Airlines begin canceling flights, offering rebooking ahead of Hurricane Helene
Piper Aircraft's attempt at private aviation: The rise and fall of PA-47 PiperJet
Policy
Webp received 638805408797706
John Calcagno President and Chief Executive Officer | Piper Aircraft

Piper Aircraft, a key player in the general aviation industry, stands alongside Cessna and Beechcraft as part of the "Big Three" manufacturers. While Cessna and Beechcraft have expanded into private aviation, Piper has remained focused on producing turboprop and piston-powered aircraft for civil use. However, in the early 2000s, Piper considered entering the business aviation market with a unique project: the Piper PA-47 PiperJet.

The PiperJet was envisioned as a single-engine jet aircraft aimed at filling a gap in very light business jets. Announced in October 2006, it was initially priced at just over $2 million. By early 2007, approximately 180 pre-orders had been received. The jet's entry into the market was planned for early 2010 but faced delays until mid-2013.

In 2009, Imprimis acquired Piper Aircraft, leading to significant changes in the project. The redesigned model featured a larger fuselage and conventional control yoke while maintaining its competitive price point of around $2.6 million. This version was named the PiperJet Altaire.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Despite these efforts, by October 2011, executives announced that the program was under review due to financial challenges and regulatory issues with single-engine jets flying at high altitudes. CEO Simon Caldecott stated, "This is being undertaken to ensure the company is properly aligning business goals and light-jet market forecasts with investment strategies and economic forecasts." Ultimately, financial constraints led to the suspension of the project later that month.

The sole prototype of the PA-47 was moved to Florida Air Museum after no buyers emerged for the project. Despite this setback, Piper continued developing other successful aircraft models.

The original design of the PiperJet used a Williams FJ44 turbofan engine providing about 2,800 pounds of thrust with specifications including a length of 35 feet eight inches and wingspan of 44 feet three inches. It could cruise at speeds up to 360 knots with a range of 1,300 nautical miles.

The redesign as Altaire introduced more space inside while retaining similar performance capabilities through passive vectored thrust technology.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

United Airlines is set to expand its Premium Plus cabin in response to increasing demand for premium economy seats.

Jul 19, 2025

Emirates, the leading operator of Airbus A380 superjumbo jets, continues to find success with this aircraft as a flagship of its fleet.

Jul 19, 2025

An Antonov An-124 aircraft, owned by Antonov Airlines, has departed from Kyiv, Ukraine, after being grounded for over three years.

Jul 19, 2025

An Air China Airbus A350 and an SF Airlines Boeing 767-300ER were involved in a near-miss incident over Russian airspace.

Jul 19, 2025

Airbus is set to start equipping fuselages for its A321 aircraft in China.

Jul 19, 2025

For over five decades, the Boeing 747 has captured the attention of aviation enthusiasts and professionals.

Jul 19, 2025