PA-46-310P

The PA-46-310P, known as the Malibu, is a pressurized, single-engine piston aircraft foundational to the modern Piper PA-46 series. It was developed by Piper Aircraft in the late 1970s to address the need for a high-performance, short- to medium-haul general aviation plane. The original PA-46-300T prototype first flew in 1979. The conforming PA-46-310P, powered by a Teledyne Continental TSIO-520BE engine producing 310 hp, had its first flight in August 1982 and achieved FAA certification in September 1983. This model was a commercial success, renowned for its spacious cabin and pressurized environment, a distinctive feature in its class. Production of the 310P Malibu ceased in 1988 when it was succeeded by the PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage.

PIPER Aircraft was established in 1937 by William T. Piper, following the foundational work of the Taylor brothers. The company became a leading aircraft manufacturer with early successes like the Piper Cub. Since then, it has produced a wide variety of influential models for both private and commercial use, including the PA-23 Apache and the PA-31T Cheyenne. The company launched the PA-46 series in 1983, maintaining its position as a foundational figure in general aviation despite ownership changes throughout the 1990s and 2000s. The PA-46 platform remains in production today through models like the M350 and M600.