What A Loop,
What exactly are you trying to acheive while you're out there? If you're just looking for dirt-cheap flying, there are plenty of schools in the Phoenix area. But if you don't mind paying a little bit more (although still
way less than you'd ever pay in the UK!) then I recommend <a href="http://www.aerobatics.com" target="_blank">Chandler Air Service</a>.
I've just returned from spending 8 weeks out there, and logged around 100 hours. The initial reason I chose C.A.S. was the range of aircraft. They have 2 Super Cubs, which is what I did around 1/2 my hours on. Plenty of Warriors and a couple of Cessnas of course. There's also an Archer if you want a bit more power, an Arrow if you want to do a complex check-out, a Cessna (182 I think?) for a high-performance check-out, and they've just got a new aircraft, but I can't remember what it is, which is both complex
and high-performance. Or, if you've got a commercial license and 500 hours total time, you can rent an Aztec. Even if you don't meet the requirements, you can still do what I did, and get some dual time on the Aztec. They also have an Aviat Huskey, if you want a taildragger with a bit more power.
I guess from your name that you're interested in aerobatics? C.A.S. have several Great Lakes bi-planes which they use for basic aerobatic training, and which you can rent after completing the 15-hour course as long as you hae 175 hours total time. (If you don't want to rent, you can do all the aerobatics in 10 hours - the other 5 hours is learning to land!) And then, if your wallet is still a little full, you can fly one of the two Pitts Specials (dual only, unfortunately!) to see what
real aerobatics is like!
It was the list of aircraft that caught my attention, but when I spoke to them on the phone I was very impressed with their attitude. Their tail-wheel sign-off not only includes 3-pointers (which I could already do) and wheel-landings (which I wanted to learn anyway), you also have to be able to fly short approaches (full aileron into the turn, full opposite rudder, for one long, slipping turn from downwind to final), and my own favourite, fast-taxying on one wheel (relatively easy in a cross-wind, but they'll make you do it with no cross-wind, too!) They say that if you can do the one-wheel taxying, you'll never have a problem landing a taildragger in any cross-wind.
Like I said, this isn't the cheapest way to fly. You'll probably find cheaper rental rates in the US. And if you're interested in tail-wheel, for example, the check-out will take longer than it will at most places. But you'll be a far better pilot at the end of it!
I can also recommend some good cross-country trips for you - Phoenix isn't the most interesting place in the world, but it's within flying distance of Los Angeles, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon.....
Feel free to contact me off-list if you want more information. My e-mail address is
[email protected]
Despite this ad, I have no financial interest in C.A.S. except for being a satisfied customer with a wallet that's much lighter now than it was 3 months ago!
FFF. .-----------
[ 14 February 2002: Message edited by: FlyingForFun ]</p>