The University of North Dakota’s John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences (UND Aerospace) has placed an order for up to 188 Piper airplanes worth about $155 million, the manufacturer’s largest-ever order, according to Piper president and CEO John Calcagno. The company also announced that it is developing the Seminole DX, a version of the twin-engine trainer that will be powered by DeltaHawk’s 180-horsepower DHK4A180 compression ignition (diesel) engine.
UND Aerospace’s order, announced at the EAA AirVenture show on July 22, starts with an initial 145 airplanes that include the Archer TX and Seminole, with deliveries beginning in 2027 and lasting eight years. An optional two-year extension through 2036 could bring the total to 155. The university’s last large order with Piper was for 112 airplanes, which concludes in 2026.
