I'm looking at a Piper malibu up in northern Ohio and looking for a recommendation for someone to do a pre buy that has a lot of experience with Piper Malibu's.

1) Malibu Aerospace in Minneapolis
2) Skytech Martin State Airport
3) Kevin Mead (pm me for contact information) is the god/guru and will travel to do the pre-buy onsite.

I would be interested in your general feelings on the Malibu. I've been asking a few questions about them as the "on paper" specs seem to be a good fit for our business use. But I know nothing about them..

Basically - let us know how it goes - if you don't mind..

Bottom line - 58p performance and maintenance cost on 14 gallons per hour.

Call Kevin Meade. He is amazing.

I think that's who came in and did my buddies annual inspection. Then our local IA did the repairs/fixes.
I thought I might want one but seeing the first annual cost and yearly training etc. it is above my pay grade for a toy.

For double the purchase price right?

For double the purchase price right?

I think that's who came in and did my buddies annual inspection. Then our local IA did the repairs/fixes.
I thought I might want one but seeing the first annual cost and yearly training etc. it is above my pay grade for a toy.

Oh I'd love to have one. Seems like I've heard opex is similar to what I'm spending on my NA58. Its just the extra $150K purchase price that keeps me away. And maybe I'm thinking about it all wrong as the purchase price on a 300K malibu would probably cost me less in the long run as far a resale goes. But the cost of money on $150K is something to consider too.

It's a twin in all but fuel burn............

And how far you can glide with one engine out. Twins tend to do that better.

Odd data point. Used to have a Malibu. Now have an MU2. Assuming total power loss, they both glide about 50 miles from FL250. Feathering props on mu2 clearly helps but given the small wing I was surprised. Would have assumed it dropped like a rock relative the glider esque pa46 wing.

It's REALLY hard to find engine out fatalities in PA46's. The plane will glide forever and it does well off airport. Pilot error >>>>>>> mechanical, more than is typical for GA, in terms of PA46 safety.

Perhaps this has nothing to do with finding a prebuy mechanic but given this is a beech forum, I think it's logical to compare a P Baron with a Malibu.

My buddy just got an 07 Avidyne Mirage and I've flown an 85 Malibu. With regards to the Mirage versus P Baron here are some thoughts:

1) Mirage takes forever to get going down the runway and we were really light and it wasn't terribly hot outside.
2) I'm not sure I can be patient enough to wait for one to climb up high, unimpressive.
3) Once it gets going, it does pretty good in the low 200 kts at 22 GPH for the Mirage and 15-16 for the Malibu. Both ran LOP with cool CHTs.
4) Mirage cost 2.5 times what I have in my P Baron, Malibu about the same.
5) Pretty airplane with good ramp presence, much more comfortable than a Baron cabin.
6) Better Cabin pressurization than the P

With all that said, I'm not sure I'd take one over a P Baron.

Mike

The piston PA46's are 12-13lb/hp.
The 58P is under 10lb/hp.

No replacement for displacement, but it costs $$.

15-16gph is 70-75% power on a Malibu. 55% power is 12gph.

The Malibu was made '84-'88. Prices are consistent with 30 year old airplanes.
The Mirage started in '89 and is still in production. Late model ones are expensive.