Piper Aircraft has taken orders for three twin-engine piston-powered Training Class Piper Seminole aircraft from the UND Aerospace Foundation, which provides training and aircraft for the University of North Dakota’s John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences.
The aircraft will be delivered later this year and join the Aviation Department’s training fleet of more than 120 aircraft. UND Aerospace flies over 130,000 hours of flight training annually.
The new Seminoles will be fully IFR equipped with Garmin G1000 avionics and GFC 700 autopilots. This initial delivery will add to the 17 Avidyne equipped Seminole aircraft that UND plans to replace with the G1000 Seminoles over coming years.
“These new Piper Seminoles will help our Aviation Department continue to graduate student pilots with exceptional aviation skills and technical abilities,” said Dr. Bruce Smith, dean of the University of North Dakota John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. “These Piper multi-engine trainers, equipped with modern glass cockpits and autopilots, will give our students the ability to attain the greatest knowledge, technical abilities and modern proficiencies possible prior to entering the work force.”
Standard Seminole equipment includes: two 10.4″ high resolution XGA (PFD/MFD) displays, an Aspen Standby System (EFD-1000), an Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS), a solid state Air Data Computer (ADC), solid state 3-Axis Magnetometer, Dual IFR Enroute/Approach and WAAS Certified GPS systems. Also included is an Electronic Engine Indication System (EIS), Dual Nav/Comm (16 watt) radio, a GTX 33ES Transponder with Extended Squitter, Digital Audio Panel, Traffic Information Systems (TIS), and Terrain and Obstacle Mapping.
A standard equipped Piper Seminole starts at $683,400. Seminoles are powered by two 180-hp Lycoming engines, have a maximum takeoff weight of 3,800 pounds, a max speed of 202 kts and a maximum altitude of 15,000 feet.