Turning to Bart Jones, who was sitting beside me in the cockpit as we flew over the Florida coast, I told him the battery wasn’t working in my headset. The whomp that active noise reduction creates when the power’s going made for quite a distraction. After a beat, and with a nonchalant shrug, he took off his headset. I did the same. It was actually quieter in the cockpit without my headset than with it, and we could hear each other just fine. We shared a laugh and looked out over the Atlantic Ocean spread before us. After a moment of companionable space, and listening to ATC on the speaker, he said, “Maybe we’d better replace the batteries and put them back on.”
We Fly: Piper Archer DX
Key Takeaways:
- The Piper Archer DX is a modern evolution of the Cherokee trainer, featuring a Continental CD-155 diesel engine that operates on more efficient jet-A or diesel fuel.
- This engine, managed by a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system with a single power lever, provides enhanced fuel efficiency, longer endurance, and simplified engine management.
- The aircraft maintains familiar handling characteristics for pilots transitioning from other Archers, while incorporating a modern Garmin G1000 NXi avionics suite for advanced functionality.
- The Archer DX addresses customer demand for diesel solutions, especially from international operators facing avgas scarcity, and offers cost-effective, "greener" options for flight training.
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