Department of Aerospace
MTSU Aircraft
In 2002, MTSU purchased 25 planes from Diamond Aircraft and The New Piper Aircraft Inc. for $4.8 million. These new airplanes enabled the MTSU Aerospace department to incorporate the latest technology into their flight training program with the purchase of a state-of-the-art fleet of Diamond aircraft. The delivery of 8 new DA40 Diamond Star aircraft in 2008 took this technology to new heights with an advanced integrated autopilot.
Beginning in November of 2018, MTSU began a comprehensive upgrade to the fleet of DA40s. Thirteen DA40s were rotated back to the manufacturer for a complete restoration to like-new condition. Additionally, the University purchased 14 new Diamond Star DA40s and 3 new Piper Seminoles between 2019 and 2023. These new aircraft are equipped with the next generation of G1000 avionics, once again raising the bar of our flight training program. MTSU operates 45 total training aircraft as part of the Aerospace Department.
“These DA40s represent absolute state-of-the-art training platforms reflecting some of the latest technologies that career pilots will ultimately encounter in the most advanced airliners,” said David Moser, Diamond’s fleet sales director. Twenty of MTSU’s DA40s have the Garmin G1000 suites equipped with the GFC Automated Flight Control System and Garmin’s Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT). This new technology will enable the MTSU Aerospace program to again be the first aviation training program in the country to incorporate another technology innovation into its flight training program.
Experience flight in a DA40 with an Aerospace Department Certified Flight Instructor:
Listed below are the current aircraft used by MTSU Aerospace students:
DIAMOND DA20
Purchased in 2002 – Used for CFI spin training
QUANTITY: 1
Click here for more information on the Diamond DA20.
DIAMOND DA40
Purchased in 2002, 2008, 2020, and 2023
QUANTITY: 38
Click here for more information on the Diamond DA40.
PIPER SEMINOLE
Two purchased in 2002, 2019, and 2022
QUANTITY: 5
Click here for more information on the Piper Seminole.
PIPER SUPER CUB
This aircraft was purchased in the Fall of 1996 by the Aerospace Department from the South Carolina Department of Forestry. It had been involved in a fuel exhaustion accident in 1988. Through the hard work of many it has become the favorite of many students.