PIPER MALIBU/MIRAGE

The cabin class Malibu set the single-engine piston market on its ear when it first came to market in 1984. The big pressurized Piper was the first aircraft to demonstrate that comfort in the flight levels did not require a second engine. After moving away from early troubles with its 310-hp Continental to a 350-hp Lycoming, the PA-46 Malibu transformed itself into the even better performing PA-46 Mirage. The original gamble Piper took with the Malibu would ultimately spawn a number of successful big cabin singles, albeit with turbine engines, including Piper's own Meridian. In 2005, the Mirage became available with an all-glass flight deck.