Photograph:
Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage VH-FEE (c/n 46-3636) at Bankstown, NSW in February 2015 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Business and executive aircraft
Power Plant:
One 260 kw (350 hp) Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A six-cylinder, dual turbo-supercharged and intercooled, horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 13.1 m (43 ft)
- Length: 8.8 m (28 ft 9 in)
- Height: 3.4 m (11 ft 3 in)
- Wing area: 16.3 m² (175 sq ft)
- Max speed: 408 km/h (254 mph)
- Max cruising speed: 394 km/h (245 mph)
- Service ceiling: 7,620 m (25,000 ft)
- Take-off ground roll: 331 m (1,087 ft)
- Landing roll: 311 m (1,020 ft)
- Take-off over 15 m (50 ft) obstacle: 637 m (2,090 ft)
- Landing distance over 15 m (50 ft) obstacle: 600 m (1,968 ft)
- Initial rate of climb: 371 m/min (1,218 ft/min)
- Long range cruising range with 45 mins reserve: 2,491 km (1,548 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 462 litres (102 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 1,416 kg (3,122 lb)
- Useful load: 561 kg (1,236 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,969 kg (4,340 lb)
History:
When introduced to the Piper range in 1979, the Malibu was the only production six-seat pressurised single-engine business aircraft. Early production Malibus were powered by a 231 kw (310 hp) Continental TSIO-520 engine but this was later replaced by the 260 kw (350 hp) TIO-540-AE2A turbo-charged engine when the Malibu Mirage was introduced in 1989. In later years examples were privately converted to PT6A turboprop power.
Production of the series took place at the Vero Beach, Florida facility of Piper Aircraft. Power is provided by a six-cylinder Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A engine driving a three-blade Hartzell composite constant speed propeller. By the year 2000 700 examples of the Malibu had been constructed.
Design of the Malibu Mirage commenced in October 1988 and it remained in production until 2011. Early aircraft were fitted with King avionics but later the Garmin G1000 glass cockpit was installed. Over the years numerous small changes were made until 1999 when the strengthened wing of the Meridian was fitted.
A number of examples have been registered in Australasia over the years, including: VH-KNV³ (c/n 46-36503 – ex N9535N [N24172]) registered on 9 June 2011 to Pressfast Industries Pty Ltd of Cheltenham, VIC; VH-ZMM4 (c/n 46-36416 – ex N1054H) registered on 29 August 2007 to ETP Mass Spectrometry Pty Ltd of Mulgrave, VIC; VH-FHG³ (c/n 46-3636 – ex N5355M) registered 30 January 2007 and re-registered 30 January 2007 as VH-FEE³ to Years to Build Pty Ltd of Bellevue Hills, NSW and operated by Little Wings Ltd of Baulkham Hills, NSW.
VH-SGG³ (c/n 4636157) was registered on 19 June 1998 and re-registered on 7 May 1988 as VH-NGG³ to MGA Whittles Services Pty Ltd of Kent Town, SA. VH-UWM (c/n 46-36022 – ex PH-FHG) was registered on 20 June 2013 to Andrew Irvine of Wagga Wagga, NSW. VH-LBE (c/n 46-22019 – ex N9157Q) was registered on 2 June 1989 and exported as N113KR, returning and becoming VH-BHR² to D A Ramp of Cremorne Point, NSW on 1 March 2012.