Yes but you only need to buy one for the certification article. Then you apply an STC at the factory to get to the G3x as a factory installed option to all the ones you sell to customers.

Copy on the website speaks of trainers. So I’m thinking a new warrior; 160hp, fuel injected, auto-gas, G3X, GTN650 and GNX375. Garmin announced their new goodies last week; Piper announces the first IFR OEM airplane with them next week (disregard the xCub).

Here is what I found. new trainer with g3x

https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/business-general-aviation/press-release/21074448/piper-aircraft-piper-introduces-the-new-pilot-100-and-pilot-100i-trainer-aircraft

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2019-04-02/piper-unveils-affordable-pilot-trainers

So a 2 seat Archer with a glass panel and a new 180hp engine from the Titan series. Neat, but hardly anything to jump up and down about. I don't understand the decision to keep it as a 2 seater. How much do they really save over installing the rear bench? Do the fleet flight schools really buy enough that omitting the rear seats and a pair of intercom jacks really save enough money to move the needle?

Anyone know anything about the IO-370?

No 3rd set of windows in the back. I guess the Cherokee 140 Cruiser has returned, just with a little more power.

From a Flying Magazine online article (written 6 days ago):

“A major change to this branch of the Piper line is the powerplant, a newly designed 180 hp Continental Prime IO-370-D3A engine that includes new generation magnetos designed to eliminate hot starting problems, an especially annoying problem for people learning to fly. “

Hi all,
I own a 1973 Piper Cherokee 180 with no hot start issues ever.
Just sayin,
Ralph

My guess: fleet segmentation.

This model will ONLY appeal to fleet customers. The people who have been buying $400K archers will keep on doing that.

There's another Certified American Built A/C that you can train in equipped with a G3X-
http://www.gamecomposites.com/gallery

My guess: fleet segmentation.

This model will ONLY appeal to fleet customers. The people who have been buying $400K archers will keep on doing that.

So the only thing innovating on this is the price tag? Comparably speaking to the astronomical price of comparable aircraft.

Doug, the press releases said that the third seat was an option. I still don't understand that. You gotta engineer a third seat, and that third seat doesn't cost half as much as a bench for two people. Why not offer the bench as the option?

Piper clearly knows what they're doing as their sales have been strong in the trainer segment, and this seems like it would make them blow Cessna out of the water. I still only see them competing for the larger schools. Smaller schools can't sink $200k into a trainer and make any money.

Eric, the 3rd seat sat right in the middle. Almost like a mini jump seat.

As a Piper guy (who now runs a flight school / flying club with primarily Cessnas) I would love to Piper to take command of a segment that Textron (note I did not say Cessna) doesn't want to be in.

There have been many threads and discussions on this. Textron doesn't want to deal with light GA. And Textron thinks awfully full of themselves. They re-branded Bad Boy UTV's to Textron off road. Really? Bad Boy wasn't a leader in their field, but they were recognized. I have several clients in the powersports industry and they tell me their customers are all saying, "Who the eF is Textron?" My guess is that Textron is trying to sell all or a major part of their product lines that don't burn Jet A. I hope they do because their actions show they don't give a damn. My second guess is that a Chinese group will seize the opportunity if they can.

That will present opportunities to Piper to earn back share. I really hope they do.

As for the only fleets can afford 200+k aircraft, yes and no (probably). With the TCJA and Bonus depreciation, I've had several (more than 2 hands of fingers full) just recently want to buy/leaseback, and then fully depreciate the aircraft for their taxes. Now these are folks who need the tax lift and as a CPA I probably get more calls on this than most. However there are opportunities. My 3rd guess is that Piper will be able to sell as many of these as they want... and Textron / Cessna, by their actions, will help them do it.

As for the rest of SnF, I really didn't see anything new and exciting on the aircraft side today - then again I was swamped. I'll look again on Thursday as I have to earn some money tomorrow.

I think the third seat probably is superior from a flight school perspective. (What I read was that the VFR version was a two seat and the IFR was three)

And yeah ... at $259K this is a major innovation. Nowhere else you can get 38 new trainers for under 10 million!

To me, the biggest part of the announcement form Piper about the Pilot 100, is the switch to the Continental engine.
For this segment of Pipers production, this represents a huge change away from (L).
But then again I am a bit prejudiced as I have been involved as a Continental representative at Piper for the last several weeks. The plane at the show, N28PP is the plane that I have been working on at Piper.
I do believe that this will be a successful venture for both Piper and CM, and that there will be a market for this product.
Simon C. At Piper has a very aggressive and long term plan for the company, I do wish them well.
CC