We aim to deliver top-notch aviation training with transparent and competitive pricing.
Aircraft Rental Rates for students and renters:
OUR AIRCRAFT
Whether you are training with us towards your private pilot certificate, a tailwheel endorsement, a commercial pilot certificate, or for the 61.183 CFI spin endorsement you will be flying our beautifully restored 1970 American Champion Citabria 7GCBC.
With two tandem seats, excellent climb performance, a cruising speed of 105 knots, and amazing visibility from the high wing airframe, this plane creates one of the purest and most enjoyable aviation experiences you can have.
Pricing
We aim to deliver top-notch aviation training with transparent and competitive pricing. Whether you’re working toward a career in the airlines, want to explore the world of aviation as a hobby, are interested in specialized opportunities like crop dusting or aerobatics, or even considering a military flying career, Central Florida Tailwheel prepares you to succeed with confidence and expertise.
All flight training reservations require a $500 refundable deposit. Any cancellations or rescheduling within one week of the flight training event will incur a $250 cancellation fee per event(excluding weather).
Flight Training Pricing:
Aircraft Rental Rates for students and renters:
Private Pilot Training
There are many advantages to completing your initial training in a tailwheel airplane. Most notably, a tailwheel airplane requires its pilot to have excellent stick-and-rudder skills—abilities often underdeveloped in tricycle gear pilots transitioning to tailwheel flying.
By beginning your private pilot training in a tailwheel airplane, you’ll also earn a tailwheel endorsement as part of your certification. This typically requires over 10 hours of additional training for tricycle gear pilots. Moreover, once you’ve mastered tailwheel flying, the transition to tricycle gear flying is far simpler.
Building time in a tailwheel airplane can open doors to niche opportunities such as banner towing, glider towing, backcountry flying, aerobatics, aerial application (crop dusting), fire-fighting, missionary aviation, and more, making it an ideal foundation for diverse aviation careers.
Tailwheel Endorsement
Our tailwheel endorsement course is designed for pilots of all levels, focusing on fundamental stick-and-rudder skills. Completing this course not only enhances your confidence but also sharpens your precision in taxiing, takeoffs, landings, forward slips, emergency scenarios, crosswinds, maneuvering close to the ground, and other fundamentals that will carry over to any other airplane you fly.
Most pilots complete their tailwheel endorsement in approximately 10 hours, although we recommend 15–20 hours for those planning to own or operate tailwheel airplanes. Our structured syllabus ensures a thorough understanding of the fundamental techniques required for tailwheel flying.
Commercial Pilot Training
Mastering the more advanced commercial maneuvers in the agile citabria is a fun challenge that will teach you a lot about the fundamentals of flight and can set you apart in the competitive aviation job market.
Combining your commercial pilot training at Central Florida Tailwheel with a tailwheel endorsement not only keeps training exciting but also positions you as a versatile and competitive pilot. Tailwheel experience is highly regarded and can open the door to unique career opportunities across many aviation disciplines.
Private Pilot Cost Breakdown
A realistic cost estimate of going from zero time to private pilot based on 60 hours of flight time (near the national average):
- 50 hours of flight training 50hrs * $260/hr = $13,000
- 10 hours of solo time 10 * $180/hr = $1,800
- 25 hours of ground training 25 hrs * $75/hr = $1875
- Total = $16,675
Be aware other flight schools will quote you the “minimum” time needed to complete private pilot training and although possible it is an unrealistic scenario.
Call today for a more detailed cost breakdown and let us answer any questions you have about becoming a private pilot!
Tailwheel Endorsement Cost Breakdown
Flight training time can be purchased by the hour, however we recommend purchasing a 10 hour block and one hour of ground to complete your tailwheel endorsement. This is a $150 savings when paid in advance.
By committing to 10 hours of training we will very likely complete the requirements to earn your tailwheel endorsement. Even if you show proficiency in less than 10 hours, there are several advanced tailwheel skills we can build up including “fast taxi”, one wheeled takeoffs and landings, and even learning to fly from the back seat with greatly reduced visibility.
- 10 hours of flight training 10hrs * $260/hr = $2,600
- 1 hour of ground training 1 hrs * $75/hr = $75
- Total = $2,675
CFI Spin Endorsement
The CFI spin endorsement can be completed by any pilot, even if you are not imminently seeking a CFI certificate.
To satisfy the requirements of FAR 61.183(i)(1) a CFI applicant must possess instructional proficiency in stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery procedures.
We believe in going beyond the bare minimums of the regulations and we want to help new CFI applicants become completely comfortable and confident instructors before they take on the challenge and responsibility of teaching new student pilots.
Our spin endorsement course consists of a minimum one hour ground focusing on the fundamental aerodynamics of stalls and spins discussing cases of stall/spin accidents. Then up to a 1.5 hour flight covering the required topics framed in a way that models how we would approach teaching new student pilots these same topics.
CFI Spin Endorsement Cost Breakdown
The CFI spin endorsement can be completed as a standalone course or can be combined with a tailwheel endorsement. Combining the two courses offers a significant discount!
- Standalone course 1 hr ground and up to 1.5 hour flight $499
- Combined with a Tailwheel endorsement course 2 hrs ground and 10 hr block of flight training $2750
Commercial Pilot Cost Breakdown
If you already have the aeronautical experience required by FAR 61.129 for a commercial pilot certificate as well as tailwheel experience the cost can be significantly less than what is quoted here.
With prior tailwheel experience commercial pilot training can be completed in 15-20 additional hours to master the more dynamic commercial maneuvers.
Below is an estimate for 30 hours to get your tailwheel endorsement and commercial pilot training.
- 30 hours of flight training 30hrs * $260/hr = $7,800
- 5 hours of ground training 5 hrs * $75/hr = $375
- Total = $8,175
Whether you’re working toward a career in the airlines, want to explore the world of aviation as a hobby, are interested in specialized opportunities like crop dusting or aerobatics, or even considering a military flying career, Central Florida Tailwheel prepares you to succeed with confidence and expertise.
Join us today and reach new heights in your aviation journey.
Other Training Opportunities
- Biennial flight reviews for experienced pilots charged hourly
- Discovery Flight $150 for approximately 45 minute flight
You can choose between individual sessions or multi-hour blocks – our pricing reflects our commitment to flexibility and value.
Private Pilot Training
There are many advantages to completing your initial training in a tailwheel airplane. Most notably, a tailwheel airplane requires its pilot to have excellent stick-and-rudder skills. These abilities are often underdeveloped in tricycle gear pilots transitioning to tailwheel flying.
By beginning your private pilot training in a tailwheel airplane, you’ll also earn a tailwheel endorsement as part of your certification. This typically requires over 10 hours of additional training for tricycle gear pilots. Moreover, once you’ve mastered tailwheel flying, the transition to tricycle gear flying is far simpler.
Building time in a tailwheel airplane can open doors to niche opportunities such as banner towing, glider towing, backcountry flying, aerobatics, aerial application (crop dusting), fire-fighting, missionary aviation, and more, making it an ideal foundation for diverse aviation careers.
Private Pilot Cost Breakdown
A realistic cost estimate of going from zero time to private pilot based on 60 hours of flight time (national average):
- 50 hours of flight training 50hrs * $260/hr = $13,000
- 10 hours of solo time 10 * $180/hr = $1,800
- 25 hours of ground training 25 hrs * $75/hr = $1875
- Total = $16,675
*Be aware other flight schools will quote you the “minimum” time needed to complete private pilot training. Although possible, it is an unrealistic scenario.
Call today for a more detailed cost breakdown and let us answer any questions you may have.
Come visit us for a Discovery Flight to get a taste of the world of aviation!
- Discovery Flight $150 for approximately 45 minute flight
Tailwheel Endorsement
Our tailwheel endorsement course is designed for pilots of all levels, focusing on fundamental stick-and-rudder skills. Completing this course not only enhances your confidence but also sharpens your precision in taxiing, takeoffs, landings, forward slips, emergency scenarios, crosswinds, maneuvering close to the ground, and other fundamentals that will carry over to any other airplane you fly.
Most pilots complete their tailwheel endorsement in approximately 10 hours over 3-4 days, although we recommend 15–20 hours for those planning to own or operate tailwheel airplanes. Our structured syllabus ensures a thorough understanding of the fundamental techniques required for tailwheel flying.
Tailwheel Endorsement Cost Breakdown
Flight training time can be purchased by the hour. However, we recommend purchasing a 10 hour block and one hour of ground to complete your tailwheel endorsement. This is a $150 savings when paid in advance.
By committing to 10 hours of training, we will very likely complete the requirements to earn your tailwheel endorsement. Even if you show proficiency in less than 10 hours, there are several advanced tailwheel skills we can build up including “fast taxi”, one wheeled takeoffs and landings, and even learning to fly from the back seat with greatly reduced visibility.
- 10 hours of flight training 10hrs * $260/hr = $2,600
- 1 hour of ground training 1 hrs * $75/hr = $75
- Total = $2,675
Commercial Pilot Training
Mastering the more advanced commercial maneuvers in the agile citabria is a fun challenge that will teach you a lot about the fundamentals of flight and can set you apart in the competitive aviation job market.
Combining your commercial pilot training at Central Florida Tailwheel with a tailwheel endorsement not only keeps training exciting but also positions you as a versatile and competitive pilot. Tailwheel experience is highly regarded and can open the door to unique career opportunities across many aviation disciplines.
Commercial Pilot Cost Breakdown
If you already have the aeronautical experience required by FAR 61.129 for a commercial pilot certificate and tailwheel experience, the cost can be significantly less than what is quoted here.
With prior tailwheel experience, commercial pilot training can be completed in 15-20 additional hours to master the more dynamic commercial maneuvers.
Below is an estimate for 30 hours to get your tailwheel endorsement and commercial pilot training.
- 30 hours of flight training 30hrs * $260/hr = $7,800
- 5 hours of ground training 5 hrs * $75/hr = $375
- Total = $8,175
CFI Spin Endorsement
The CFI spin endorsement can be completed by any pilot, even if you are not imminently seeking a CFI certificate.
To satisfy the requirements of FAR 61.183(i)(1) a CFI applicant must possess instructional proficiency in stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery procedures.
We believe in going beyond the minimums of the regulations. We want to help new CFI applicants become completely comfortable and confident instructors before they take on the challenge and responsibility of teaching new student pilots.
Our spin endorsement course consists of a minimum one hour ground focusing on the fundamental aerodynamics of stalls and spins, including discussion of stall/spin accidents. Then up to a 1.5 hour flight covering the required topics framed to model how one would approach teaching new student pilots these same topics.
CFI Spin Endorsement Cost Breakdown
CFI Spin Endorsement Cost Breakdown
The CFI spin endorsement can be completed as a standalone course or can be combined with a tailwheel endorsement. Combining the two courses offers a significant discount!
- Standalone course 1 hr ground and up to 1.5 hour flight $499
- Combined with a Tailwheel endorsement course 2 hrs ground and 10 hr block of flight training $2750
Other Training Opportunities
- Biennial flight reviews for experienced pilots charged hourly
- Discovery Flight $150 for approximately 45 minute flight