Complex/High Performance Endorsements
If you want to fly bigger, faster, more powerful airplanes you will
need either a high performance or complex endorsement, or both. Prior
to 1997, the FAA made no distinction between high performance airplanes
(those with engines larger than 200 HP) and complex airplanes (those
with a constant speed propeller, retractable landing gear, and flaps).
However, due to airplane accidents caused by pilots not skilled in the
higher workloads involved in flying complex airplanes, the FAA has required
separate high performance and complex endorsements.
Depending on what you want to fly, you might need both a high performance and complex endorsement, which gives you the ability to fly most airplanes regardless of their horsepower or configuration. Most high
performance or complex endorsements take about 10 hours of ground and flight time.