Hawkins Flight Academy has added a Piper Aztec multi-engine aircraft to its growing training fleet, reinforcing the academy's commitment to safety focused, professional pilot development. The aircraft will be used for multi engine add on and advanced commercial training at Hawkins Flight Academy's Shelbyville, Tennessee location.

While the academy operates a modern fleet equipped with advanced avionics and glass cockpit technology, leadership intentionally selected the Piper Aztec for its reputation as one of the most stable and forgiving multi-engine training aircraft ever produced.

“When we evaluated aircraft for multi-engine training, our priority was safety, predictability and confidence under workload,” reveals Mike Harris, co-founder and chief visionary of Hawkins Flight Academy. “The Aztec has a long track record of producing calm and capable pilots, especially during high demand training scenarios.”

The Piper Aztec was designed during an era when structural strength and redundancy were central to aircraft engineering. Its heavier airframe and wide stance provide exceptional stability, smoother handling and predictable energy management. That stability becomes especially valuable during engine out training and asymmetric thrust scenarios where students are learning complex decision making under pressure.

Multi-engine training demands precision, situational awareness and confidence. The Aztec's long fuselage and balanced control characteristics create an aircraft that responds consistently and honestly to pilot inputs. Students benefit from an aircraft that allows them to focus on procedures, systems knowledge and aeronautical decision-making rather than fighting handling quirks.

For decades, the Piper Aztec has been widely used by professional flight schools, charter operators and government agencies. Its continued presence in training environments is the result of dependability and predictable performance rather than aesthetics or speed. Hawkins Flight Academy selected the platform specifically for its strong safety margins and history of effective pilot instruction.

While the airframe reflects classic aviation engineering, the aircraft is equipped to meet modern training requirements. The Aztec integrates seamlessly into Hawkins' structured syllabus, helping pilots develop systems knowledge and sound judgment that transfer directly to advanced aircraft and airline operations.

“We did not choose the Aztec despite its age,” Harris goes on. “We chose it because decades of real world training experience have proven its value. It is stable, forgiving and built around safety.”

With the addition of the Piper Aztec, Hawkins Flight Academy continues to expand its professional pilot training pathway while maintaining its core focus on safety, structure and long term student success.