When an unusual looking tail-mounted-single-engine PiperJet took off for the first time in Vero Beach, Florida, it marked a milestone 71 years in the making. It was the summer of 2008.

The aircraft was powered by a Williams FJ44-3AP engine and promised a cruise speed of 360 knots at 35,000 feet. It was Piper Aircraft’s first venture into jet propulsion and its boldest step yet toward modernizing its brand.

For a company known for the yellow J-3 Cub and a long line of mostly piston and turboprop singles, the PiperJet seemed to point to a new horizon. Early results were promising: the jet flew smoothly, reached 10,000 feet and 160 knots on its first flight, and Piper claimed more than 200 customer deposits. At $2.2 million, it was pitched as a practical, efficient “personal business jet” f

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