Hello. I'm new to Virginia and live closest to Manassas. I see that there are three flight schools there but I have no idea which one to choose. I don't want to judge it all by the website or just off of price.
Here are the three flight schools:
Manassas Aviation - http://www.manassasaviation.com/
- Seems to be the cheapest. Website not much help (or impressive)
Dulles Aviation - http://www.flydai.com/
- Seems to be okay - Website has plenty of info.
Air Adventures - http://www.aviationadventures.com/
- Seems to be the nicest (selection of planes). Website is by far the nicest.
Can anyone offer any suggestions? I'm looking for the following:
~ You actually trained or instructed at one of the three - first hand experience
~ You know people there or have contacts there - second hand experience
~ You know what you're talking about and know what to look for in a school - professional opinion
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
All Comments
I selected Dulles Aviation since a Part 141 school. Do you know if the HEF security now allows closer parking to Aviation Adventures? At the time I investigated those schools, you needed to walk from the access gate at the terminal building. All three schools looked good but the Dulles Aviation lobby looked a little nicer. If I had to do it over, I might have chosen the cheapest but YMMV.
I have no idea why my posts keep dropping off but Aviation Adventure all the way..i fly out of their regularly and they have the best planes, best price, great instructors, and flying privileges at their other facility at KJYO. if you want to fly G1000 they have C172, C182, and C400 at KHEF, with C172,C182 and DA40 at kJYO. they also have late model C172 Nav II and Piper archers They recently moved their offices and are now located in the Main terminal on the east side and the aircraft are parked right out the front door. They don't have a FAR 141 certificate yet but are in the process of obtaining and hope to have it by summer.
Wow. This thread brought back some distant memories. I first started to learn to fly out of the since developed Woodbridge Airport. Old Charlie Ben owned that FBO. Then I transferred to Dulles Aviation to finish up. Now keep in mind at that time it was an uncontrolled field with a single runway back in 1980. I flew with Don Conway and my Examiner was Everett Noel. They were the only concern going. Colgan Airways was there once upon a time and had a lackluster flying program but DAI buried them. Heck I worked for DAI as a lineman for a while. Does Belton Gardner still own the FBO? They had a better selection of aircraft back then as well. Everything from a C-152, C-172, C-172RG, C-182, Beech A-36, Piper Archer, Piper Warrior, and the Arrow. They also had a Seneca but it was a hangar queen. They had a decent operation then. Can't answer for it now.
[QUOTE=Mac46;2946]Wow. This thread brought back some distant memories. I first started to learn to fly out of the since developed Woodbridge Airport. Old Charlie Ben owned that FBO. I flew with Don Conway and my Examiner was Everett Noel. Does Belton Gardner still own the FBO? [/QUOTE] Wife of Charlie is former WASP Velta Benn and she is still around at 92 and was still giving FAA flight exams as a DE but I had heard she may have stopped. It sounded like she would like to continue. Don Conway gives the CATS written tests. Gardner's sons run DAI now.
[QUOTE=Fluky;2954]Wife of Charlie is former WASP Velta Benn and she is still around at 92 and was still giving FAA flight exams as a DE but I had heard she may have stopped. It sounded like she would like to continue. Don Conway gives the CATS written tests. Gardner's sons run DAI now.[/QUOTE] Thanks. I worked with Joe but I forget the other one. Joe had a Mach II Mustang that used to blow water pumps on a regular basis. :p I wonder if he still owns it..........................
Joe's brother is Tom. I worked for Charlie Benn from Feb 1972 until May 1978 when I moved on to Eastern Airlines. I would continue to fly charter flights for Charlie on the side until Woodbridge Airport closed Memorial Day 1987 at which point my partners and I moved our Aztec to Manassas, Dulles Aviation. After having been in the Northern Virginia area for 30yrs, I moved further south 10yrs ago, so I am totally out of touch with who or what is going on at Manassas, as far as operators and their offerings.
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