What We Offer

We will cover this in much more detail during the ground school, but we use a building block approach. Initially, we go "back to the basics" to ensure that the foundation is solid. The improved flying skills learned during tailwheel transition can be used in any airplane.

Block 1: Introduction to tailwheel basics and airplane familiarization.

Block 2: Take-offs and 3-point landings.

Block 3: Light crosswind techniques.

Block 4: Wheel landings.

Block 5: Taxiing in windy conditions and moderate crosswind techniques.

That's entirely dependent upon you. A logbook endorsement will only occur when you have demonstrated you can safely fly a taildragger in various conditions. There are too many variables in pilot skills and learning curves to be able to promise a signoff in a defined amount of flight time. Anyone who claims elsewise is either disenginuous or unsafe - we've seen signoffs between 5 and 20 hours.

At this time, the increased insurance costs are too high, so no. However, if there is enough demand in the future for C-170 rental time, we'll reconsider it.

Yes. With the C170B weight is rarely an issue.

Sometimes, everyone needs a mulligan. Flat tires, family emergencies, arguments with the significant other, failing to pass the AIM's "IMSAFE" checklist can happen to anyone. 

But the aviation industry waits for nobody.

If you can't make a scheduled appointment, you must let us know 24 hours in advance, and we'll reschedule. If it's less than 24 hours, you can choose to take your mulligan and we'll reschedule, or save it for another day and get charged a $295 cancel fee. 

Our scheduled block of time begins on schedule. If you arrive late, you will be charged the Instructor-Only rate of $100/hr from the beginning of the scheduled block until your arrival. We don't keep an exact eye on our watches, but we tend to start looking after 14 minutes of start time. We also tend to look at the watch less if you're rarely or never late. If you arrive more than 30 minutes late without contacting us in any way, you will be charged the $295 cancel fee.

Even with prior taildragger time, we don't know what you know and what you don't or what you understand or how long its been since you've flown tailwheel.  So generally speaking, we'll start at the beginning. However, because you have previous experience you may accelerate through the blocks of training in a shorter amount of time. 

Please contact us to discuss your particular situation.

After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the USA Transportation Security Administration instituted strict rules on flight instruction for foreign nationals (to include "Green Card" holders). 

Therefore, as with many aviation questions, the answer is "it depends". Please contact us to discuss your particular situation.

That depends. If we're familiar with your aircraft, then yes. You can see some of the planes Dale has flown on the page about us.  If your airplane is similar to any of those airplanes, Contact Us to get more details on training.

We specialize in only two areas - tailwheel transition and Emergency Confidence Training.

It's all we do.

Many CFI's today have only done two spins and spin entries - we do more than that almost every flight.

Dale is the only instructor, and he used to teach spin training at ERAU, is a member of SAFE, IAC, EAA, AOPA, and participates in the WINGS and FAASTeam. He also attends seminars from Master CFI's - because there is always something new to learn.

We highly recommend you read Rich Stowell's Guidelines for All Attitude Training. We're not associated with him (other than originally being from Idaho, and having flown in and out of his home airport) but couldn't agree with his guidelines more. Whether you train with us or not, if you follow the guide, you'll be in good hands.

Recent NASA and Industry studies have discovered that the effects of startle on pilots during critical events and the reliability of modern aircraft is, in part, to blame for inappropriate actions taken after a startle event. One of the common themes as aircraft become more
reliable is that pilots are surprised or startled by some event and as a result have either taken no action or alternatively taken the wrong action, which has created an undesired aircraft state or, in some cases, an accident. By doing Emergency Confidence Training, you'll learn the skills to minimize the adverse effects of an event - you may be surprised, but not startled. The effects of a startle have been shown to effect the motor skills for over 10 seconds! 

Airplanes may surprise you - but they should never startle you.

Yes! You may initially pre-pay in blocks of 5 hours with a 10 hour minimum.  We will keep track of your time on an hour sheet, and each pre/post brief is exactly 0.2 hours (a savings from pay-as-you-go). Additionally,  you'll receive a 5% discount for each 10 hour block of time you purchase (For example, Normally 10 hours = $2950,  10 hour block discount =$2802.5). After the first block, you can prepay in blocks of however many hours you wish in order to continue the .2 pre/post brief. If you pay as you go, you'll pay the $50 preflight/postflight instructor fee.

Contact Us and let us know you're interested. You can also follow us and DM us on Instagram

We'll then set up an initial consultation to determine your needs and goals as a pilot, and to begin to mutually develop a plan for your training.

The initial consultation is free!

However, we limit the number of pilots we work with at any given time, so the sooner you contact us, the sooner you can get started!

The Decathlon, Champ, Cub, Citabria, etc.. All of them are great airplanes! But if most of the airplanes you fly have yokes, and you fly with your left hand, then the Cessna 170B is the easiest and quickest transition. Additionally, in the C170B, you sit side-by-side, which can aid in demonstration and instruction. The easiest aircraft to learn correlation to  your every-day airplane in the C-170B, the predecessor to one of the most commonly flown airplanes in General Aviation today: The Cessna 172 - 182 series of airplanes. The 170B is the Grand Daddy of them all, and it flies just like ANY Cessna!

In this day and age of automated and glass cockpits, hand flying is in danger of becoming a lost art.

Since the demand for pilots at the airlines has increased in recent years, the number of CFI's confident in spins, spin training, low-altitude engine failure simulation, and unusual attitude training has decreased. Unfortunately, a quick look at NTSB accident reports shows what appears to be an increase in pilot-induced accidents and fatalities that may have been prevented with a better comfort and understanding of emergencies and imminent stalls.

When the Cessna 170 was built in 1954, new private pilots were required to not only be proficient in spins... but had to do a spin recovery within 10 degrees of an assigned heading! 

Gaining confidence in the C-170, learning stick and rudder skills in the predecessor to the ever-so-popular C150, C172, C182 series of aircraft will give you the extra confidence and skills that if something should go bad... You'll be as ready as you can be.

If you are coming to see us for tailwheel transition, we believe so strongly in a stronger and better understanding of emergency confidence training that we recommend it for all our pilots. The extra few dollars in cost will be priceless on that one day when you and your family will face a crisis and your skills will be put to the test. 

For those building or purchasing or owning a Skybolt, Pitts, Starduster, Acrosport, Acroduster, EAA Biplane or similar small biplane, we have a Letter of Deviation Authority issued by the FAA for receiving instruction in our Skybolt. You can't get an endorsement or a rating in the Skybolt, but you can receive training.  Contact Us for more information.

You can contact us through the website or via the forums! >.. We answer forums first, email a far second, and website a great third

There are definitely benefits of working together in a class. However, we tailor classes to each pilot's needs and sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. During our initial consultation we can discuss this possibility.

Yes! There are no medical requirements for this training or for the tailwheel signoff.

Tailwheel transition can be completed in as little as two very, very long days. However, it's highly dependent on the Florida weather, which doesn't tend to be conducive to training in the afternoons. However, each situation is different.

We know money can be hard to come by for working CFI's, and that's why we offer a special discount. All you have to do is give us your NAFI or SAFE membership number and you'll receive a 25% discount (off normal prices). You can also refer a student who completes one of our courses.

CFI's also automatically get a lifetime membership in the WolfePack.

Wet Aircraft + Instructor are $295/hr.

• If you have completed our ground school, all dual flights have an additional flat rate fee added of $50 for the pre/post flight briefings. Although the time of both briefings combined can and often do go longer than 30 minutes total, we feel it's more important to make sure we achieve comprehension and understanding  and arrive at the "Ah-hah!" moment rather than worry about the exact time of each briefing.
• If you have not completed the ground school, then the pre and post briefings are charged at the instructor rate of $100/hr.