Discovery Flight
Do you ever dream of flying? Do you ever look up at an airplane as it flys over head and wonder what its like to be at the controls? Well stop dreaming, come find out! This is NOT an airplane ride its an actual lesson in our fabulous DA-40 Glass-panel equipped Diamondstar!
Your certified flight instructor will coach you through preflight inspection, run up and taxi to the active runway. But the best feeling will come when you actually take the controls of our technically advanced Diamondstar.
Only $99.00 includes aircraft, fuel and Flight Instructor for 1/2 hour.
Light Sport
Recently, the FAA has introduced a whole new classification of aircraft called Light Sport Aircraft, or LSA for short - not to be confused with Ultralight Aircraft, which is totally separate from LSA.
Aircraft which qualify as LSA may be operated by holders of the new FAA Sport Pilot License and is a great less costly way for those desiring to learn to fly to earn their wings!
The FAA defines a light sport aircraft as an aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of less than 1320 pounds for aircraft designed to operate from land or 1,430 pounds for seaplanes; a maximum airspeed in level flight of 120 knots (138 mph); a maximum stall speed of 45 knots (52 mph); either one or two seats; fixed undercarriage and fixed-pitch or ground adjustable propeller; and a single reciprocating engine.
Pilots with a Sport Pilot License as well as holders of private pilot, recreational pilot, or higher pilot certificate may also fly LSA, even if their medical certificates have expired, so long as they have a valid driver's license to prove that they are in good enough health to fly. LSA also have less restrictive maintenance requirements and may be maintained and inspected by traditionally certificated Aircraft Maintenance Technicians, by individuals holding a Repairman: Light Sport certificate, and (in some cases) by their pilots and/or owners.
Private
The private pilot certificate is usually the first step in your aviation journey.
Earning your private pilot certificate enables you to experience the world from a new perspective. Imagine flying to Monterey for lunch or spending a weekend in Reno with friends without having to drive. You will have mastered the fundamentals of airmanship, navigation, and communication. As a result, will be given the privilege and responsibility to fly virtually anywhere under Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
Glass Cockpit
Mach 5 Aviation is your 21 century flight training headquarters!
Our Diamond DA-40 comes equipped with a G1000 Glass Cockpit. Having this technology in the cockpit improves situational awareness and with added features like weather and traffic, safety is also increased. These features also make the DA-40 an excellent choice for all levels of pilot experience.
Tail Wheel
Taildraggers demand a higher degree of skill from their pilots; due to their configuration, they are more likely to groundloop if improperly handled, and can be difficult to taxi, takeoff, and land in strong winds.
Why, then, do people fly these airplanes? Many reasons. Tailwheel aircraft have a dramatic advantage when operating from short or rough fields; a survey of bush planes in Alaska, Africa, South America, or elsewhere will reveal a hugely disproportionate number of tailwheel aircraft. The tailwheel is far less likely to get stuck in the mud and grass, reducing the chance of a nose-over or collapsed nosegear.
Bush flying isn't the only reason to fly taildraggers, though. For the first half of the aviation age, all airplanes had conventional gear (hence the name “conventional”). Many of these airplanes are still flying, and stir the hearts and souls of pilots who see them. Who wouldn't enjoy playing with a Stearman on a beautiful summer's day, or cruising low over the Earth in a Piper Cub with the doors open at sunset?
Most aerobatic airplanes are taildraggers, too. Citabrias, Pitts, Extras—all taildraggers. If you want to get into aerobatics, odds are you'll have to learn to fly a tailwheel.
Even if you have no interest in flying tailwheel aircraft, though, a tailwheel endorsement is a great way to improve your flying and enhance your skills. Taildraggers are less forgiving of side loads and improper wind correction during landing; with tailwheel training, you'll quickly learn to align with the runway perfectly, every time.
