VERO BEACH, FL., May 19, 2021 – Piper Aircraft has announced an order for two (2) Pilot 100i single-engine trainers from the Tuskegee Airmen Inc., inspired aviation scholarship program, the RedTail Flight Academy (RFA).
The RedTail Flight Academy, which began its legacy with the Major General Irene-Trowel Harris Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, will officially begin training students in September 2021. The Academy, with a mission of honoring the legacy of the original Tuskegee Airmen, will be based at New York Stewart International Airport, will train to a Part 141 curriculum, and will start with six pilot scholarships, increasing to thirty students per year by 2026. Student training will take place over ten months and will result in a multi-engine commercial pilot license with instrument rating for candidates between the ages 18 and 21.
“Piper Aircraft is proud to be part of the launch of the RedTail Flight Academy”, said Ron Gunnarson, Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Customer Support. “The Piper Pilot 100i is the ideal initial trainer for this program as it offers the reliability and ruggedness of the PA-28, Garmin advanced avionics as well as acquisition and operating costs that will enable the RedTail Flight Academy to achieve their scholarship goals. We look forward to continuing to support the RedTail Flight Academy and their mission as they advance their training program and develop qualified commercial pilots for the aviation industry.”
“Our vision is to create a state-of-the-art flight training academy that uses aviation as a developmental tool focusing on STEM, leadership development, and the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen”, said Glendon Fraser, Director, Lee A. Archer Jr., RedTail Youth Flying Program. “The addition of two Piper Pilot 100i aircraft is a key milestone as we work to achieve our vision and meet our goal of providing thirty commercial pilots per year with zero cost to deserving candidates. Additionally, providing a modern single-engine aircraft equipped with a glass cockpit affords our students a competitive advantage for flying in the contemporary world.
About Piper Aircraft Piper
Aircraft Inc., headquartered in Vero Beach, Fla., 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 M600SLS, M500, and M350 – offers businesses and individual’s exceptional performance, outstanding value and a superior ownership experience. The Personal Class Seneca V, 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, Arrow, Seminole and Seneca V 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. To learn more about Piper Aircraft, visit the company’s website at www.piper.com.
About RedTail Flight Academy (RFA)
In 1988 the Major General Irene Trowell-Harris Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen was formed to continue the legacy of the pioneering African American men and women of the Army Air Forces experiment. In honor of those men and women, the chapter embarked on a series of mentoring programs named The Lee A. Archer Jr., Red Tail Youth Flying Program a 501 (C) (3) entity. Each program is tasked to support the youth initiative of the national Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. organization, which is to provide career building, gateway opportunities for underrepresented, minority youth into the world of Aviation and Aerospace careers. To date over 886 minority youth have been impacted by various educational pursuits and ongoing mentorships offered by the program.
The RedTail Flight Academy represents a major milestone towards furthering the organization’s goal of bringing more diversity to aviation by making world-class flight training accessible to young, aspiring minority aviators through scholarships funded by various industry and private endowments. Supporters include, American Express, Atlantic Aviation, JetBlue Airways, Guardian Jet, Kaplan Family Foundation, Polaris Aviation, United Airlines, United Way, Blavatnik Family Foundation, William Nicklin Family Foundation, New York Stewart International Airport, Baldwin Safety and Compliance, Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan, Piper Aircraft and Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
For more information about The RedTail Flight Academy – Lee A. Archer Jr., Red Tail Youth Flying Program, contact Glendon Fraser - Director - Email: glendon.fraser@tai-ny.org.
