Six-seat unpressurized high-performance personal transport · Single-engine piston aircraft · production 2008–2015 · See its reach on the 3D globe
A Piper PA-46R-350T Matrix costs approximately $596k (€552k) to $713k (€660k) to buy at 2012 market values, and about $75k (€70k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $940 (€870) per flight hour all-in. It seats 6, cruises at 213 kt (245 mph) and has a published range of 1,343 nm (2,487 km), needing about 2,133 ft (650 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The Matrix is the Mirage with the pressurisation deleted: the same wide six-seat PA-46 cabin, the same 350 horsepower turbocharged Lycoming and the same range, at a much lower price. For an owner who wants the cabin and the legs but flies mostly below the teens, it is a lot of aeroplane for the money. It gives away the point of the airframe. Without pressurisation you either stay low, where the turbo is doing less for you, or you fly on oxygen for hours, and the PA-46 wing and systems were designed around getting high. Add a short production run and a small fleet and resale is slower than the Mirage's. Buy it for cabin and range on shorter legs, not as a cheap Mirage.
First-party reference values for this model. They are shown separately from PlaneFit planning estimates and do not enter Finder or cross-model rankings until each field is normalised across the catalogue.
| Maximum takeoff weight | 1,969 kg |
|---|---|
| Usable fuel | 462 L |
| Maximum operating altitude | 25,000 ft |
| Baggage weight | 45 kg |
| Engine | Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A turbocharged, 350 hp |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 6 |
| Reported payload proxy | 851 lb (386 kg) |
| Reported range | 1,343 nm (2,487 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | Not used for mission ranking |
| Cruise speed | 213 kt (245 mph) |
| Runway need | ~2,133 ft (650 m) |
| Landing gear | Retractable tricycle |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Avgas 100LL |
| Fixed annual base | $41k (€38k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $367 (€340) |
Mirage performance and cabin without pressurization complexity, but turbo engine, FIKI and loading still require careful management.
Indicative cash costs at 2012 market values, before financing, depreciation and tax. The fixed base is the same whether the aircraft flies or not, so the effective hourly cost falls as utilisation rises.
| Annual use | Annual cash cost | Effective cost / h | Five-year cash outlay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 h / year | $60k (€56k) | $1,512 (€1,400) | $950k (€880k) |
| 80 h / year | $75k (€70k) | $940 (€870) | $1.02m (€948k) |
| 120 h / year | $90k (€83k) | $749 (€693) | $1.1m (€1.02m) |
| 180 h / year | $112k (€104k) | $622 (€576) | $1.21m (€1.12m) |
Every figure above is built from a $41k (€38k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $367 (€340) per hour flown for fuel, reserves and consumables. It is a planning model for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation, not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.
Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at $76k (€71k) per year at 80 hours. Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment move a real transaction further than the model year does, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model. A cheaper example carrying deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft once the first annual inspection is complete.
Piper PA-46R-350T Matrix cost guide answers the same figures as standalone purchase and ownership questions, and the ownership cost calculator lets you replace these assumptions with your own hours and fixed costs.
On top of a pilot certificate, this aircraft obliges the person flying it to hold the following. Each one is time and money before the first trip, and insurers usually attach their own minimums on top.
US requirements under 14 CFR 61.31, stated for orientation and not as advice. PlaneFit is not an aviation authority or a training organisation. Other authorities set different rules, and the current regulation and your instructor are what govern.
An indicative 2012 market price for a Piper PA-46R-350T Matrix is $596k (€552k) to $713k (€660k). This is a planning estimate normalised across the market, not a quote for a specific airframe. Condition, engine time remaining, avionics and damage history move the real number more than the model year does.
Flying 80 hours a year, a Piper PA-46R-350T Matrix works out at roughly $75k (€70k) annually, which is about $940 (€870) per flight hour all-in once fixed costs are spread across those hours. The direct cost per hour alone, covering fuel, reserves and consumables, is about $367 (€340).
Reported range is 1,343 nm (2,487 km). PlaneFit does not yet use this figure for mission ranking on this model.
Beyond a pilot certificate, a Piper PA-46R-350T Matrix requires complex airplane endorsement. Retractable gear puts this aircraft in the complex class of 14 CFR 61.31(e), alongside flaps and a controllable-pitch propeller, which retractable types carry as a matter of course. It is a one-time instructor endorsement in your logbook, but the insurance condition behind it is the part that costs money: underwriters usually want a stated number of hours in retractable-gear aircraft before they will write the risk at standard rates. These are US requirements and are stated for orientation; confirm them against the current regulation and an instructor.
Plan on approximately 2,133 ft (650 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.