First Of 100 Piper Archers Delivered To UND

The University of North Dakota’s John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences is upgrading its training fleet, and that’s just the beginning.

Piper Aircraft has begun order fulfillment, this week delivering the first of 100 new trainers to the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at the University of North Dakota. The school placed the unprecedented order for 80 Archer TXs and 20 Piper Seminoles in April.

"This milestone marks the beginning of a transformation for the University of North Dakota training," said Paul Lindseth, Dean of the Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. "We are rejuvenating our fleet with the rugged Archer TX and Seminole in order to provide our students with the latest, state-of-the-art trainers in the business."

One of the most popular trainers in aviation today, the Piper Archer TXs for UND will features the 180 hp Lycoming IO-360-B4A engine and a Garmin G1000 avionics suite, making it a reliable, modern aircraft. The single-engine four-seater is suitable for both teaching and cross-country flying, as its specially created, standard equipment flight school interior is designed to withstand the rigors of flight training.

"The first delivery to the University of North Dakota is part of the school's fleet replacement strategy and cements the 30-year relationship between Piper and one of the top aviation schools in the country," said Piper Aircraft CEO Simon Caldecott. "The Archer TX will replace aging single-engine aircraft currently in use, as well as the multi-engine Piper Seminoles. Both the Archer TX and Seminole have been designed to give students everything they need to meet the demands of today's commercial and corporate aviation environment."

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get the latest Plane & Pilot Magazine stories delivered directly to your inbox