TYPE: Business turboprop.
PROGRAMME: Launched at 1997 National Business Aviation Association Convention in Dallas, Texas, where a full-scale fuselage mockup was displayed; prototype (N400PT, converted from second Malibu Mirage) rolled out 13 August 1998; first flight 21 August 1998. Static test airframe and three further certification flight test aircraft (N403MM, first flown in July 1999, N402MM first flown 27 August 1999 and N401MM first flown in September 1999) built on production tooling. N401MM was dedicated to stability and autopilot testing and ice shape testing; N402MM, first with production standard interior and exterior paint finish, conducted performance and avionics testing and certification for flight into known icing, as well as serving as marketing demonstrator, N403MM was responsible for systems and power plant testing, high-speed flight testing and flutter testing. Public debut (N402MM) at the NBAA Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, in October 1999. First flight of production aircraft (c/n 003/N375RD) 30 June 2000. FAR Pt 23 certification achieved 27 September 2000, followed by UK CAA approval on 21 June 2001.
Increase in maximum take-off weight to 2,310 kg (5,092 lb), resulting in 15 per cent increase in useful load, certified at end of 2002; modifications include strengthening of airframe, modified stall strips and addition of vortex generators to the wings and underfuselage of tailplane.
CUSTOMERS: Total of 239 orders held by October 2000. First delivery (N375RD) to Richard Dumais of Richardson, Texas, in November 2000. Total of 98 delivered in 2001, 25 in 2002, and 17 in the first nine months of 2003.
COSTS: US$1.75 million typically equipped (2003).
Description generally as for Malibu Mirage, except that below.
DESIGN FEATURES: Strengthened wing, incorporating wingroot leading-edge gloves to increase area and reduce stalling speed; strengthened tail surfaces; and 37 per cent increase in area of horizontal stabiliser.
FLYING CONTROLS: Deflections as for Malibu Mirage except flaps 36°. Flight-adjustable trim tab in rudder. Ground-adjustable tab on starboard aileron.
POWER PLANT: One Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42A turboprop, thermodynamic rating 767 kW (1,029 shp), flat rated at 373 kW (500 shp) maximum continuous, driving a Hartzell HC-E4N-3Q/E8501B-3.5 four-blade constant-speed reversible propeller. Fuel capacity 655 litres (173 US gallons; 144 Imp gallons), of which 644 litres (170 US gallons; 141.5 Imp gallons) are usable. Oil capacity 11 litres (3.0 US gallons; 2.5 Imp gallons).
ACCOMMODATION: Pilot and five passengers in standard club layout; passenger capacity reduced to four with optional entertainment centre comprising beverage cooler, storage cabinets, AM/FM/CD stereo and provision for VCR with flat-panel monitor. Fully automatic bleed-air conditioning and temperature control systems.
SYSTEMS: Upgraded electrical system, with 200 A starter/generator and 130 A standby alternator.
AVIONICS: Standard Garmin International and Meggitt package with dual Garmin GNS 530 nav/com/GPS as core system.
Comms: Garmin transceiver with 8.33 kHz spacing; GMA-340 audio panel; GTX-327 transponder.
Radar: Honeywell RDR 2000 vertical profile colour weather radar with KMD 850 MFD.
Flight: S-Tec Magic 1500 AFCS with integrated yaw damper; dual Meggitt air data, attitude, heading and reference systems (ADAHRS) provides digital readout of pitch and roll attitudes, roll and yaw rates, altitude, rate of altitude change, airspeed and heading.
Instrumentation: Meggitt Avionics MAGIC EFDS fit comprising pilot's and co-pilot's colour flat panel LCD primary flight display and navigation display driven by dual air data attitude heading reference systems (ADAHRS).