Tailwheel and Light Sport Aircraft

It is Flight Dynamics desire to provide qualified persons the ability to rent the Aeronca Champ for pleasure, time building, and refinement of tailwheel skills.  At present, there are very few commercial operators that allow solo operations in tailwheel airplanes.  The reason is simple: losses of rented tailwheel aircraft is much higher than for tri-cycle gear aircraft.  This rate of loss of rental tailwheel airplanes is dramatically apparent in the insurance premiums and pilot requirements.  The rate of loss is so high that in the recent past, commercial insurance for rental tailwheel airplanes was not possible.   Although now possible, the insurance premiums and pilot requirements are substantially higher than that of there tri-cycle gear counter parts.  Even though the Aeronca Champ is a very simple aircraft, it is more challenging to operate particularly in takeoff and landing phase of flight.

To that end, it is Flight Dynamics' policy to only allow people that have the skills, academics, and judgment to fly the aircraft solo.   Flight Dynamics requirements for solo flight are above the basic requirements for tailwheel flight by the FAA. 

Flight Dynamics offers several standard courses that are taught in the Aeronca Champ.  These courses are:

  • Basic Tailwheel Operations Course
  • Advanced Tailwheel Operations Course
  • Light Sport Pilot Course
  • Light Sport Pilot Instructor Course
  • Glider Tow Pilot Course

Course Descriptions

The following section includes the basic descriptions of the standard Flight Dynamics Courses.  More detailed information on each course are contained in their respective course workbooks. 

Basic Tailwheel Operations Course

The Basic Tailwheel Course is structured to introduce the basic of tailwheel operations to tri-cycle gear pilots.  This course will include all of the items necessary for an FAA tailwheel endorsement including wheel landings, 3-point landings, cross-wind landings and tailwheel ground school.  Successful completion of the course will result in an FAA tailwheel endorsement.  The basic course consists of:

  • 6 – 1.3 hours flight lessons in the Aeronca Champ
  • 6 hours of pre-briefs, post-briefs and ground instruction
  • Flight Dynamics Basic Tailwheel Operations Workbook

Prerequisites: An FAA fixed wing pilot’s certificate.

Completion Standards: FAA tailwheel endorsement 

Advanced Tailwheel Operations Course

The Advanced Tailwheel Course is structured to refine and further improve the basic skills learned in the basic tailwheel course.  This course includes both ground and flight tasks that are specifically designed to reduced common accidents in conventional gear aircraft.  The advanced Tailwheel Course consists of:

  • 6 – 1.3 hours flight lessons in the Aeronca Champ
  • 6 hours of pre-briefs, post-briefs and ground instruction
  • Flight Dynamics Advanced Tailwheel Operations Workbook

Prerequisites: An FAA tailwheel endorsements and ground school knowledge of the Basic Tailwheel Operations Course.  Student's who have not taken the Flight Dynamics Basic Tailwheel course may require additional groundschool.

Completion Standard: Ready for the Flight Dynamics academic and flight test for solo flight

Light Sport Pilot Course

This Light Sport Pilot Course is designed to take a person with no aviation experience through to the FAA Light Sport Pilot Certificate.  The following is FAA minimum requirements for a Sport Pilot Certificate:

  • 20 hours of flight in a fixed wing LSA (the Champ) aircraft including 15 hours of dual instruction and 5 hours of solo flight. 

Light Sport Instructor Course

Coming soon!

Glider Tow Pilot Course

Coming soon!