Piper Aircraft, Inc. has taken an order for 112 trainer aircraft from the UND Aerospace Foundation, for delivery over eight years, beginning Q4 2016. The Foundation provides training and aircraft to the University of North Dakota John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, whose Dean, Bruce Smith said: “We see Piper as an essential partner in producing the next generation of pilots.”
The order will replace the current fleet with the Archer TX and the new Seminole. As with all Piper aircraft, both are equipped with Garmin G1000 avionics, an all-glass cockpit and the perfect mixture of low workload and high technology. The trainers’ specially created interior is designed for comfort and to withstand the rigours of flight training.
“We have designed the Archer TX and Seminole to give students the technical abilities and modern proficiencies they will need in today’s aviation workforce,” said Piper President and CEO Simon Caldecott. “UND’s continued commitment to Piper confirms our belief that Piper trainers offer a cost-effective means of both developing and replacing aircraft at training organisations.”
The Archer TX is powered by the 180hp Lycoming 0-360-A4M piston engine and offers 128kt TAS cruise speed, while the Seminole is equipped with two 180hp Lycoming engines, has a maximum takeoff weight of 3,800 pounds, a max speed of 202kt and a ceiling of 15,000 feet.
