Vero Beach, Florida, USA – Piper Flight School Alliance member Paragon Flight Training of Fort Myers, Florida, has taken delivery of the 200th Pilot 100i produced by Piper Aircraft. This milestone aircraft joins Paragon’s fleet of over thirty (30) Piper Pilot 100is and one (1) Seminole.
Piper Aircraft has produced the Pilot 100i for four years, and Piper’s Flight School Alliance partners value the high dispatch reliability of the platform, which utilizes Garmin full panel avionics, a Lycoming IO-360 180 HP engine, and a three-seat configuration. The Pilot 100i is classified as a Technically Advanced Aircraft (TAA), allowing schools an unmatched level of versatility in flight training.
Paragon began taking delivery of Pilot 100i aircraft in early 2022, including SN 100. Now, at the end of 2024, they have received another milestone serial number, SN 200.
Paragon recently finalized another large order for additional Pilot 100i and Seminole aircraft, placing Paragon on the path to becoming the largest Pilot 100i fleet operator worldwide by 2027. These increased orders also support the company’s most recent expansion outside of Florida, with its 2024 acquisition of Airventures, a flight school in LaGrange, Georgia, outside of Atlanta. The purchase follows the company’s 2023 entrance into the Georgia market, when it began a partnership with LaGrange College to offer the college’s first program in aviation.
Paragon’s Pilot 100i deliveries will resume in early 2025 and continue throughout 2027. “Paragon Flight continues to enjoy a mutually rewarding relationship with Piper. We work collaboratively and confidently together as we build up our fleet of Piper P100i aircraft and train the next generation of pilots using this outstanding platform,” Chris Schoensee, Paragon Flight Training President, said. “We are incredibly pleased to now have possession of both the 200 and 100 serial number P100i’s.”
“It is our honor to partner with well-respected training establishments like Paragon Flight Training as they leverage the Pilot 100i platform to make the most of their operations,” said Ron Gunnarson, Vice President of Sales, Marketing, Customer Support, and Quality at Piper Aircraft. “We are thrilled to renew our commitment to Paragon through our collaborative relationship and look forward to watching serial number 200 and beyond bring great success to all three of Paragon’s flight traininglocations.”
About Piper Aircraft, Inc.
Piper Aircraft Inc., headquartered in Vero Beach, Fl., offers aviators throughout the world efficient and reliable single and twin-engine aircraft and is the first general aviation aircraft manufacturer in the world to certify Garmin Autoland. The single-engine M-Class series – the M700 FURY, M500, and M350 – offers businesses and individuals elegant performance, value and a superior ownership experience. The Personal Class, Archer LX and Archer DLX balance proven performance, efficiency, and simplicity in a piston-powered aircraft. The Trainer Class Pilot 100i, Archer TX, Archer DX, and Seminole aircraft form the most complete technically advanced line of pilot training aircraft in the world. Piper is a member of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
About Paragon Flight Training
Paragon Flight is an award-winning flight academy headquartered at Page Field in Fort Myers, Florida. Holding FAA and SEVIS accreditations, the company trains commercial, professional, and recreational pilots as well as offering military pilot training for domestic and foreign governments. With multiple locations in Florida and Georgia, Paragon Flight now has more than 34,000 square feet of training facilities in the South Eastern United States.
Source: Piper Aircraft
Photo Credit: Piper Aircraft