Tailwheel Boot Camp

Rentals

Let me know what your interest is for the year. We have some great flying vacations available in MN, land of 10,000 lakes & Florida, some of you have been to both places and have seen what a fun winter play ground we have for float flying in Florida & the amazing part of flying float planes in MN, the unbridled ability to land anywhere there is water, you can fly to a different spot everyday and not see it all, grand lodges, outpost cabins, great fishing & sightseeing! Paradise!!

Solo Rental

CESSNA 185 - J-3 Cub

  • Get much more than just your float rating
  • Our Cessna 185 is insured for Instruction and Solo rental with limited named pilots. This plane is on a year round open policy.
  • The C-185 will be available for rental at Tower Seaplane Base during the summer months and will be relocated to CHERRY POCKET FISH CAMP in central Florida for the winter months
  • Come fly in Florida this winter. We have a Cessna 185 and 172 available for Solo Rental & Dual Training
  • Online scheduling for all planes
185-amphibs

Cessna 185

Rates

Located at Tower Seaplane Base
$400/hr

Information

Min. Seaplane Hours Required
25 Hours & Min. Land Time
400 Total Time

Tailwheel Training

Learn to fly tailwheel aircraft! If you are a pilot and want to learn how to fly a whole new type of airplane, enroll in our 2 or 3 day tailwheel endorsement course in our CITABRIA

There is just something intangible about flying taildragger aircraft that defies explanation. For some, it is the mystique that harkens back to the golden age of aviation, for others, it is a gateway into the wonderful world of aerobatics.

What are the requirements for a tailwheel endorsement?

You don’t need a tailwheel endorsement if you’ve already logged pilot-in-command (PIC) time in a tailwheel airplane prior to April 15, 1991. Otherwise, you must now receive a one-time logbook endorsement to act as PIC in a tailwheel airplane. Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) section 61.31(i) elaborates:

The flight training must include at least the following maneuvers and procedures:

(i) Normal and crosswind takeoffs and landings;

(ii) Wheel landings (unless the manufacturer has recommended against such landings); and

(iii) Go-around procedures.”

The courses we offer are designed to take someone who has no experience with a taildragger aircraft and train them to a level of proficiency that will allow them to handle a conventional aircraft in a variety of wind conditions on different types of landing surfaces.

How long will that take?

Pilots want their flight training boiled down to number of hours. After all, hours translate into dollars. But when transitioning to tailwheel flying, the number of landings is actually a better yardstick for measuring one’s “tailwheel readiness.” Most pilots are competent to solo somewhere between 30 and 40 landings on paved runways. This usually translates into around 5 hours of dual, If you need additional training beyond the 5 hours that are included, you will be billed at an hourly rate of $200 per hobbs hour in the Citabria, which includes aircraft rental, fuel and CFI.

Our course is much more than just a tailwheel checkout. As part of our training package, you will receive 5 hours of dual instruction with a certified flight instructor, plus 1 hour of advanced ground instruction from one of our highly experienced tailwheel instructors.

THE BEST REASONS TO GET A TAILWHEEL ENDORSEMENT!

  • You will learn how to use the right rudder
  • You learn what a ground loop is and how to avoid it
  • Crosswind landings take on a whole new meaning
  • Three point landings
  • Wheel landings
  • You can land on rough airstrips
  • You'll learn to use smooth power application
  • Crosswind control during taxi
  • You learn to start AND stop turns on the ground
  • You master slips to a landing
  • It opens up the world of aerobatics to you
  • If you don't, you're missing out on so many great airplanes
  • You'll become a better pilot