The Piper PA-46 Malibu is designed by Piper Aircraft as a single-engine light aircraft that can carry one pilot and up to five passengers. It was produced from 1979 to the present and was the third single-engine piston aircraft designed with a pressurized cabin to enter the aviation market.

Manufacturer:
Piper Aircraft
Country:
United States
Manufactured:
1979 to: Present
ICAO:
PA46
Price:
US$1.5 million (2019)
Avionics:
Garmin Avionics
Engine:
1x Continental TSIO-520BE
Piston
Power:
310 horsepower
Max Cruise Speed:
234 knots
433 Km/h
Approach Speed (Vref):
58 knots
Travel range:
1,055 Nautical Miles
1,954 Kilometers
Fuel Economy:
Service Ceiling:
30,000 feet
Rate of Climb:
1556 feet / minute
7.90metre / second
Take Off Distance:
743 metre - 2,437.63 feet
Landing Distance:
643 metre - 2,109.55 feet
Max Take Off Weight:
2,310 Kg
5,093 lbs
Max Landing Weight:
2,199 Kg
4,848 lbs
Max Payload:
660 Kg
1,455 lbs
Fuel Tank Capacity:
120 gallon
454 litre
Baggage Volume:
0.5 m3 / 18 ft3
Seats - Economy / General:
6 seats
Seats - Business Class:
Seats - First Class:
Cabin Height:
1.19 metre - 3.90 feet
Cabin Width:
1.24 metre - 4.07 feet
Cabin Length:
3.7 metre - 12.14 feet
Exterior Length:
8.6 metre - 28.21 feet
Tail height:
3.4 metre - 11.15 feet
Fuselage Diameter:
1.3 metre - 4.27 feet
Wing Span / Rotor Diameter:
13.1 metre - 42.98 feet
Wing Tips:
No Winglets

In the late 1970s, developmental work on the Piper Pa-46 started. On November 30, 1979, the first prototype designated as PA-46-300T took to the sky for the first time. In August 1982, the first production variant designated as PA-46-310P Malibu conducted its maiden flight and in November of the same year, the aircraft was announced to the public.

The PA-46 was developed to rival against the P210 Centurion of Cessna. In September 1983, the PA-46 was awarded its Federal Aviation Administration certificate. After two months, aircraft deliveries started. A total of four hundred and four PA-46-310Ps powered by Continental TSIO-520 engines were produced before it was taken over by the PA-46-350Ps in production.

The Continental engine of the PA-46-310P produces a maximum thrust of 310 horsepower. It features lesser fuel consumption, extended range, and the capability to cruise while burning fuel with an excess of air in an internal combustion engine.

The version has 1,055 nautical miles of cruising range and has obtained different world records in terms of speed. On November 23, 1987, it flew from Seattle to New York at 225 knots; on January 4, 1989, from Detroit to Washington DC at 344 knots and on January 8 from Chicago to Toronto at 382 knots.

The aircraft has a service ceiling of 30,000 feet and a rate of climb of 1,556 feet per minute. The takeoff distance is 743 meters while the landing distance is 643 meters. The PA-46-310P has a maximum takeoff and landing weight of 2,310 kg and 2,199 kg, respectively. It has a maximum payload of 660 kg and a fuel capacity of 120 gallons.

The PA-46-310P Malibu has an exterior length of 8.6 meters, an exterior height of 2.1 meters, a tail height of 3.4 meters, and a fuselage diameter of 1.3 meters. It has a wheelbase of 2.4 meters and a wingspan of 13.1 meters. The cabin height is 1.19 meters, the cabin width is 1.24 meters, and the cabin length is 3.7 meters.

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