Airtest – Piper Malibu

When I first saw the Piper Malibu, some ten months ago, I was very impressed. Here stood probably the most beautiful aircraft on the ramp. With its smooth long wings and airstair door leading to a spacious well well-crafted interior and comprehensively equipped panel, it was more like a cabin class twin than a top-of-the-line pressurised single.

Not Just Another Single-Engine, Six-Place Lightie but Rather a Whole New Era in Terms of Light Aircraft Design Excellence.

This aircraft represents a significant step forward for aviation. I just couldn’t wait to fly it to see if the performance matched its impeccable looks. Unfortunately, I wasn’t going to find out on this occasion. Some blighter had rushed in, paid his money, and was taking the only Malibu in the country home to Adelaide. This was a disappointment. However, I was promised a second Malibu to arrive in Australia and scheduled for January, 1985. True to their word, Colin Park, Manager, Cheyenne Sales of Pacific Aviation (Australia’s Piper distributor) called and told me they were ready to let me loose on their new bird. Both Colin and John McGuirk, Sales Manager (Aircraft Sales), Pacific Aviation and Malibu demonstration pilot came along on the flight.

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