Piper History Timeline

1937 1938 1948 1954 1957 1972 1983 1994 2000 2008 2012 2013 2015 2017 2020

1937

William T. Piper established the Piper Aircraft Corporation and the Piper Cub is Born.

The History of Piper Aircraft has been the subject of numerous books and research projects—with over 80 years of aviation industry leadership, the Piper Aircraft family and aircraft are legendary. Come with us on a trip through the generations of Piper Aircraft…

Piper Cub Factory

1938

Piper Aircraft establishes the Dealer Network.

Jake Miller becomes the Sales Manager and successfully expands the Dealer Network, increasing sales of aircraft for training, personal and business class users.

Jake Miller of Piper Aircraft

1948

PA-15 Vagabond

The PA-15 Vagabond is developed and enables the company to prosper during the late 1940s.

PA15 Vagabond from Piper Aircraft in black and white

1954

PA-23 Apache

The PA-23 Apache is born, becoming Piper’s first twin-engine, all-metal aircraft.

PA23 Apache from Piper Aircraft in black and white

1957

Fred Weick joins Piper Aircraft.

Fred Weick joins Piper Aircraft and establishes the developer center and manufacturing plant in Vero Beach, Florida.

Fred Weick's contribution to Piper Aircraft

1972

PA-31T Cheyenne

Piper Aircraft certifies the Company’s first turbine aircraft, the PA-31T Cheyenne.

Cheyenne model from Piper Aircraft

1983

PA-46 Malibu

The piston-powered, pressurized, PA-46 Malibu, receives certification.

PA46-310P Malibu from Piper Aircraft

1994

PA-28 Archer III

The PA-28 Archer III is launched.

Archer III model from Piper Aircraft

2000

PA-46 Meridian

The turboprop PA-46, Meridian, the company’s first single-engine turbine powered aircraft, receives certification.

Meridian model from Piper Aircraft

2008

PA-46 Matrix

The unpressurized, piston-powered, PA-46 Matrix, is born.

Matrix model from Piper Aircraft

2012

75 Years of Piper

Piper Aircraft celebrates 75 years of the Piper Cub and manufacturing aircraft.

Piper 75th Logo

2013

Double Anniversary for Piper

60th Anniversary of Piper’s first twin-engine aircraft, the Apache, and the 30th Anniversary of the PA-46 Malibu.

Piper Aircraft plane model

2015

M-Class

Piper unveils the M-Class with three revolutionary aircraft—the M350, M500 and M600—at a historic launch event in Vero Beach, Florida.

Piper Aircraft M class model with a sunset

2017

80 Years of Piper

Piper celebrates its 80th Anniversary of aviation leadership.

Piper 80th Anniversary Logo

2020

HALO Safety System Certified

Piper M600/SLS received type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its new HALO safety system — making it the first Garmin Autoland equipped aircraft in the world to receive certification.

Man pressing Emergency Autoland button
Piper Aircraft Headquarters

Factory Tours

You can’t see legendary aircraft being built just anywhere. But at Piper Aircraft’s Vero Beach campus, you can experience the culmination of over 85 years of aircraft manufacturing and engineering expertise, innovation, technological advancement, and vision. After a brief hiatus, Piper Aircraft is thrilled to once again welcome visitors to tour our factory in Vero Beach, Florida. These complimentary tours are available every Tuesday and Thursday at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm. Prior reservations are required.

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Piper Factory Tours

Leadership

John Calcagno of Piper Aircraft

John Calcagno

President and Chief Executive Officer
John Calcagno was named Chief Executive Officer of Piper Aircraft, Inc in 2021. Calcagno is a seasoned and successful executive with extensive experience i... Read Bio

Danny Markford

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Danny joined Piper Aircraft in 1998, and has held positions of increasing responsibility within Finance during his tenure. He was most recently appointed V... Read Bio

Buddy Sessoms

Vice President of Product & Government Affairs
Buddy Sessoms Vice President of Product & Government Affairs at Piper Aircraft.  Buddy joined Piper Aircraft in 1998 and has held product development ... Read Bio
Ron Gunnarson of Piper Aircraft

Ron Gunnarson

Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Customer Support
Ron Gunnarson is the Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Customer Support at Piper Aircraft. Appointed to this position in January 2017, Gunnarson is r... Read Bio
Greg Spadaro

Greg Spadaro

Vice President of Operations and Supply Chain
Greg Spadaro joined Piper Aircraft as Director of Materials in April 2010, responsible for Scheduling/Planning, Production Control, Purchasing, and Sourcin... Read Bio

Marc Ouellet

Vice President of Engineering
Marc Ouellet was appointed Vice President of Engineering in September 2022 but he has been part of the executive team since September 2019. In his new role... Read Bio

Joshua Gang

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Joshua Gang joined the Piper legal team in 2021 and was appointed as its General Counsel and Corporate Secretary in July 2022. Josh has over 15 years of ex... Read Bio

Kathleen Pagani

Director, Human Resources
Kathleen Pagani joined Piper Aircraft in May of 2022.  She is responsible for leading the human resources department, with a focus on developing and execu... Read Bio

Community Outreach

Community Outreach

We’re not just passionate about building great aircraft, the Piper Aircraft team is passionate about building a great community too. We’re committed to the active support of programs that serve humanitarian, environmental and educational purposes across the Space and Treasure Coasts. We’re always looking for ways to give back, provide positive and immediate local impact, as well as long-term and sustainable efforts.

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Piper Aircraft's "Wings for a Cure" Team in Indian River County
Piper Aircraft employees standing next to an aircraft
Think Pink decal on a Piper Aircraft for Breast Cancer Awareness
Piper Aircraft's "Wings for a Cure" Team in Indian River County
Piper Aircraft employees standing next to an aircraft
Think Pink decal on a Piper Aircraft for Breast Cancer Awareness

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