The Malibu Guru

Thinking about upgrading your airplane before you sell it? You could spend thousands and still not get that money back.
In this episode of The Malibu Guru Podcast, Joe sits down with Casey Aviation sales specialist Eric Earl to discuss which aircraft upgrades actually improve resale value—and which ones are better left for the next owner.
They break down some of the biggest decisions aircraft owners face before bringing an airplane to market, including:
• Should you install or upgrade onboard radar?
• Is a new propeller worth the investment?
• Should you overhaul an engine that is approaching TBO?
• Will fresh paint or a new interior help the airplane sell?
• Can a modern avionics panel increase value or speed up the sale?
• Is it better to simply sell the aircraft as-is?
The answer often comes down to timing. Upgrades can make an aircraft more attractive and help it sell faster, but most sellers will not recover the full cost, especially when the improvements are completed immediately before listing.
Joe and Eric also explain why owners should consider upgrading earlier, enjoy the improvements during ownership, and bring a more desirable, ready-to-fly aircraft to market later.
Are you preparing to sell your aircraft? Let us know which upgrades you are considering in the comments.
Casey Aviation can help you evaluate your airplane, price it accurately, and develop a strategy to bring it to market.
Learn more about Casey Aviation: www.flycasey.com

Did JetPROP change the future of Piper?
In this episode of The Malibu Guru Podcast, Joe and Kenneth Hale dig into the history of the PA-46 and the rise of the JetPROP conversion. They talk about Piper’s challenges in the 1990s, why the PT6 was such a strong fit for the PA-46 airframe, and how JetPROP may have pushed Piper to bring the Meridian to market.
It’s a fun look at PA-46 history, competition, innovation, and the airplanes that came from it — from the Malibu and Mirage to the JetPROP, Meridian, M500, M600, and M700.
🌐 Visit Us Online
- Aircraft Sales & Brokerage: https://flycasey.com
- PA46 Aircraft Maintenance: https://www.caseyaviationservices.com

In this episode of The Malibu Guru Podcast, Joe sits down with John Moalli from Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands to talk about his aviation journey, his transition from Mooney to Baron to Cessna 206 and eventually into a JetPROP, and how aviation has shaped nearly every part of his life.
John shares what it is like to live and fly from the San Juan Islands, why aviation is such an important part of island life, and how his JetPROP became the perfect airplane for his mission between Friday Harbor and Stanford. He also talks about his background in forensic engineering, his teaching at Stanford, his work helping students design solutions for people with disabilities, and the powerful role general aviation played in changing one young man’s life.
This conversation is about much more than airplanes. It is about using aviation with purpose, continuing to grow as a pilot, and finding the right aircraft for the mission.
🌐 Visit Us Online
- Aircraft Sales & Brokerage: https://flycasey.com
- PA46 Aircraft Maintenance: https://www.caseyaviationservices.com

A-46 maintenance can be confusing, expensive, and full of myths, but knowing what is truly required can save owners major money. 
In this episode, Joe Casey talks with Kenneth Hale, Director of Maintenance at Casey Aviation Services, to debunk common PA-46 maintenance myths. They discuss parts availability, battery life, annual inspection costs, service bulletins vs. ADs, Part 91 maintenance requirements, the MORE program, M600 wing life concerns, and what buyers should understand before stepping into PA-46 ownership.
Whether you fly a Malibu, Mirage, Matrix, JetPROP, Meridian, M500, or M600, this episode gives practical insight from the maintenance side of PA-46 ownership.
🌐 Visit Us Online
- Aircraft Sales & Brokerage: https://flycasey.com
- PA46 Aircraft Maintenance: https://www.caseyaviationservices.com

Is the aircraft market slowing down in 2026, or are good airplanes still moving?
In this Summer 2026 aircraft market update, Joe Casey sits down with Eric Earl to discuss what is really happening in the PA-46, TBM, and King Air markets. With fuel prices rising, aircraft values shifting, and buyers trying to make sense of the current market, Joe and Eric break down what they see daily in aircraft sales. They discuss why the PA-46 market remains healthy, why efficient airplanes continue to attract serious buyers, and how TBMs and King Airs are performing in today’s environment.
🌐 Visit Us Online
- Aircraft Sales & Brokerage: https://flycasey.com
- PA46 Aircraft Maintenance: https://www.caseyaviationservices.com