This 1997 Piper Malibu Mirage Is a Pressurized, High-Flying ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

Mint-condition example of the PA-46 brings cabin-class luxury to the single-engine pilot.

FLYING Staff

Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 10:35 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

1997 Piper Malibu Mirage [Credit: Aircraft For Sale]

Key Takeaways:

The article highlights a 1997 Piper Malibu Mirage as "Today's Top Pick," emphasizing the Malibu series' pioneering role in creating a category for personal airliners combining corporate twin comfort and pressurization with single-engine piston economics.
This specific aircraft is presented as a "mint condition" example, meticulously maintained with low total time (3,005 hours), no damage history, and a recently overhauled engine (969 SOH) and propeller (55 SOH).
It features modern cockpit upgrades for IFR navigation (e.g., Aspen EFD 1000, Avidyne IFD 540), a luxurious club-seating cabin with an airstair door, and is priced at $525,000 as a cost-effective alternative to a new turboprop.

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Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1997 Piper Malibu Mirage.

When Piper introduced the PA-46 Malibu in the 1980s, it didn’t just launch a new airplane. It created an entirely new category. It offered the pressurization and cabin-class comfort of a corporate twin with the operating economics of a single-engine piston.

The Mirage variant, which followed, refined the concept with a more powerful engine and improved systems, solidifying its status as the ultimate personal airliner. For pilots looking to climb above the weather and cruise in the flight levels without the expense of a turbine, the Mirage remains the gold standard.

This model is a stunning example of that legacy, presenting a rare opportunity to own a mint condition airframe that has been meticulously cared for.

The aircraft has always been hangared and shows no damage history, a critical pedigree for a pressurized airframe. With a total time of 3,005 hours, it has been flown regularly enough to stay healthy but remains low-time for a hull of this vintage.

Under the cowl lies the turbocharged Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A engine. Rated at 350 hp, this powerplant allows the Mirage to cruise comfortably in the flight levels, far above the chop and traffic of the lower altitudes. This specific engine has logged 969 hours since major overhaul, offering plenty of utility before the next scheduled overhaul.

Up front, the propeller is practically fresh, with only 55 hours since overhaul, ensuring smooth operation and maximum thrust.

The cockpit has been thoughtfully upgraded to blend modern capability with the aircraft’s classic layout. The pilot flies behind an Aspen EFD 1000 electronic flight display (EFD), which replaces traditional vacuum gauges with a reliable, solid-state glass PFD.

1997 Piper Malibu Mirage [Credit: Rich D] — 1997 Piper Malibu Mirage [Credit: Aircraft For Sale]

Navigation and communication are handled by a premium Avidyne IFD 540 touchscreen GPS, supported by a Garmin GMX 200 multifunction display. With Avidyne AXP 340 and 322 transponders, the aircraft is fully ready for the modern IFR environment.

But the real magic of the Mirage is in the back. The cabin features an airstair door—a true big airplane feature—opening into a club-seating configuration for passengers. This aircraft boasts an interior condition score of 10/10, ensuring that family or business associates travel in absolute comfort.

Listed at $525,000, this Piper Malibu Mirage offers the speed, comfort, and safety of a pressurized cabin for a fraction of the cost of a new turboprop.

If you’re exploring ownership options, FLYING Finance can help get you airborne. Use our airplane loan calculator to estimate your monthly payments, or connect with an aviation finance expert at flyingfinance.com.