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A New Pilot Gets an Accelerated Course in Flying

A Cessna 150 helps a pilot get his certificate – and then heads for STOL drag.

[Credit: Leonardo Correa Luna]
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Key Takeaways:

  • Kyle Bushman orchestrated for retired Marine photojournalist Carl Costas to receive intensive flight training from Tim Knutson, fulfilling Costas's lifelong dream of becoming a pilot.
  • Costas underwent a focused three-day, 12-hour training program in Knutson's Cessna 150 on his farm's grass runway.
  • Following Costas's training, the same Cessna 150 was prepared for a STOL Drag competition, with Tim Knutson qualifying to race it, though the event was ultimately canceled.
  • The article highlights the strong sense of community and friendship within general aviation, emphasizing that flying often serves as an excuse for good friends to connect and support each other's dreams.
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“Can you be there on the 16th at Tim Knutson’s farm? You don’t want to miss this story—we are finally teaching Carl [Costas] to fly in Tim’s 150, and then Tim is going to race it at the Mayday STOL competition in Wayne, Nebraska!”

That was Kyle Bushman on the phone. He is the most passionate general aviation advocate I know. At the young age of 28, he has achieved more aviation milestones than most people do in a lifetime. He’s a pilot, A&P, IA (technician with inspection authority), technical advisor for the STOL Drag series—and owner of a Navion (in which he learned to fly and solo at the age of 16), an N3N biplane, and a highly modified Aeronca Champ. His creativity in running his shop, Ragwood Refactory, and his “let’s make this happen” attitude has no limits. He is a force of nature in GA, and his passion is so infectious that anybody who talks with him gets the aviation bug.

Leonardo Correa Luna

Professional pilot and photographer Leonardo Correa Luna was born in Uruguay in 1974, and since he can remember all he wanted to be was a pilot. Forward in time to 2016 and at the age of 42 Leonardo has accumulated more than 12,000 flight hours, he has been captain and instructor for 7 different airlines in 6 countries and for the last 8 years has been based in China flying an Airbus A320 for a local airline. www.leonardocorrealuna.com

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