Piper unveils new trainers

Piper CEO Simon Caldecott said the new models are designed for smaller flight schools who want new airplanes. He said the training market is “no place for a light sport-derived anything.” Flight schools, he said, wanted an airplane with the durability and reliability of the Piper products, but at a price point affordable to local flight schools.

The Piper 100s swap the 180-horsepower Lycoming O-360 or optional fuel-injected IO-360 in the traditional Archer for a 180-hp Continental Aerospace Technologies IO-370 Prime engine, which comes standard with fuel injection. Inside, the Garmin G1000 NXi found in the Archer and most other aircraft used in airline training organizations is replaced by a lower-cost Garmin G3X Touch panel, which Garmin just announced last week was approved for certificated aircraft. The G3X Touch comes with one 10.6-inch display. Also, instead of four seats, the VFR-only 100 comes standard with two; a third is an option. The 100i, designed for instrument training, comes with the third seat standard and includes a Garmin GFC500 autopilot. In addition to the white fuselage with red and blue stripes, one can distinguish a 100 from an Archer because it has only two side windows instead of three.

A base model Archer TX is $369,000, according to Caldecott. The 100 starts at $259,000; the 100i starts at $285,000.

The company is planning a demo tour this summer to flight schools, seeking additional input before finalizing the design and beginning production. The first airplanes will be available in limited quantities starting in 2020. And they are not just for flight schools, Caldecott said. Individuals wanting a lower-cost option also can order one from the factory.