Robclay26, Why in Gods name would you give a flight school any cash up front? My wife and I owned flight Training Units for 26 years, the first briefing we gave all students is to keep their money and pay as you go, pointing out that the industry , {aviation that is} is about the most unstable buisines in the World, even in Canada twelve airlines have gone belly up in ten years, Ive lost count of how many flight schools have gone under. { We managed to stay solvent, paid every bill and sold to very good folks a few years back by the way.} When I wake up tomorow I will PM you with some sugestions to recover your money!