Florida, USA – Paragon Flight Training, an FAA- and SEVIS-accredited flight training group headquartered at Page Field in Fort Myers, has taken delivery of two additional Piper Aircraft P100i, expanding its owned training fleet to 38 aircraft as it enters the final stretch of a five-year fleet modernisation programme ahead of its 20th anniversary in 2026.

• The two Piper P100i aircraft were delivered on December 16, marking Paragon’s 37th and 38th aircraft and completing the third year of a strategic five-year fleet acquisition plan targeting a total of 50 Piper aircraft.

• Paragon operates an entirely Piper-based training fleet, supported by ALSIM flight training simulators, reinforcing a standardised, airline-aligned training environment.

• The academy’s long-term strategy has focused on owning rather than leasing aircraft, a deliberate shift implemented more than a decade ago to improve operational control, dispatch reliability, and long-term cost efficiency.

• The fleet expansion supports Paragon’s continued growth across its training locations in Fort Myers and Punta Gorda, Florida, and LaGrange, Georgia.

• Paragon was founded in 2006 and has reported average annual growth of approximately 20% since inception, positioning it among the more established, professionally managed flight training organisations in the U.S. market.

• The organisation has historically emphasised modern avionics adoption, having early-on invested in Garmin G1000-equipped aircraft as part of a broader push toward digital training environments and improved student experience.

• As the academy approaches its 20th year, management has indicated a strategic shift from rapid expansion toward operational refinement, focusing on training quality, customer experience, and process optimisation.

Statements

• “Ten years ago, our school was growing quickly, but we realized future success would hinge on owning – not leasing – our aircraft,” said Chris Schoensee, President of Paragon Flight Training.

• “Now, with a fleet of 38 aircraft – and counting – comprised exclusively of Piper training aircraft, plus the leading ALSIM training simulators to complement them, we’re heading into our 20th year with strength.”

• “We’ve been moving at warp speed for years, yet we follow a very disciplined approach,” Schoensee added. “Paragon Flight Training is going to spend some time at cruising altitude, diving in deeply to improve upon our strengths to make the school the best it’s ever been.”

Source: Paragon Flight Training