Accelerated Private Pilot

Make your Private Pilot flight training an adventure to remember!
Private Pilot flight training in your aircraft.

We also can train you in a Gobosh 700S

Many successful personalities, celebrities, and executives recognize the value of a personal trainer in achieving maximum performance. To ensure you obtain the greatest benefit from your flight training, we believe your instructor must, in many ways, become your personal trainer. As a result, unlike the other "accelerated flight schools" you may have found, our Accelerated Private Pilot course doesn't pack you in with a group of students. Throughout the course, your instruction will take place in a relaxed setting. In essence, your instructor will be your personal trainer.

Our exciting Accelerated Private Pilot Adventure course is not just a training course: it's a training vacation. It is designed for people who place a high value on their time and quality of training. This course is for pilots who don't want to commit several months or a year to learning to become a Private Pilot. As a full-time Student Pilot, you should plan on at least 18 days of concentrated effort, with your check ride being the day after your last lesson. You will meet with your instructor each day. When not with your instructor, you will be studying -- up to 3 hours a day.

The key to success in such an effort is complete focus on the activity and an open dialogue with your instructor. In addition to training for your check ride, you'll enjoy spectacular scenery and gain valuable experience by flying and training away from your local airport in a variety of flight conditions. Your cross-country training flights will be to interesting and scenic locations. Possible stops include Aspen, Moab, Lake Powell, Jackson Hole or the Grand Canyon. This will be an aviation experience you will never forget - A real Rocky Mountain High!

Mountain Flying - "Don't be just a flatlander pilot"

After several years of teaching the ATP and multi-engine rating to 1000+ hour pilots, Mickey Russell, president of Russell Aviation, discovered that the students were lacking in one area: the confidence gained by flying long distances from one end of the country to the other. Most had never flown in the mountains, only in the "flatlands" and in their local area. With our accelerated Private Pilot course, you will spend some of your time flying in the mountains. Once you complete your training, you'll be confident and competent to fly from one end of our great country to the other.

Our Accelerated Private Pilot course is designed to include an introduction to mountain and canyon flying and to promote safety of flight operations in the mountains. This is a strong foundation on which an instructor can begin to incorporate and practice the techniques of safe mountain canyon flying.

Apollo Flight Training Program ^TM

Whenever possible, our Accelerated Private Pilot Adventure course is based on the "Apollo system" of instruction in which two students are paired as partners. The partners are instructed at the same pace and are assigned joint responsibilities, including ground school assignments and aircraft preparation for flight. For pilots enrolled in an Apollo System Course, the partnership extends into the cockpit, doubling the "air experience" of each pilot.

With the Russell Aviation Accelerated Apollo Flight System, one of the students occupies the pilot’s seat for the first leg of flight while the other partner observes the training from the rear seat. When the flight leg is completed, the aircraft lands for a "seat change" and the partners switch seats for the second leg of flight training

16 -18-Day Private Pilot Training Adventure

We can fly to several western states. These can include Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, South Dakota and New Mexico. Once we leave the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, we enter the "western" world, practicing landings and radio communications, plus learning backcountry flying skills. Training stops may include: Santa Fe and Taos, Lake Powell, Mount Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, Jackson Hole, Heber City/Sundance, Telluride, Steamboat Springs, Aspen, Leadville and other exciting stops. You will learn more about backcountry flying as we head back to Colorado.

A Sample of one of our Private Pilot Adventures
Day 1 - ORIENTATION BEGINS - The first day begins with a mountain flight from Denver or Colorado Springs to the Upper Arkansas Valley. If you have not taken your Private Pilot written, then you will be studying an extra 3-4 hours today to prep for the written test. Otherwise you will be in the simulator for up to 4 hours.

Day 2 - If you have not taken your written exam by today, then you will be doing extra training to prepare you for the written exam. The rest of the day focuses on learning the aircraft systems. You will then spend some time with your instructor planning your cross-country adventure.
Day 3 - Today is another day on aircraft systems and you will start learning the basic of flying and controlling the aircraft. This is an important day, as you will start building the ground work for your Private Pilot training.
Day 4 - You will start the day by flying in the morning. You will be learning how to leave and enter the airport area and do a couple of landing to start getting the use to the actual aircraft. Depending on weather and current conditions, we may fly to Leadville, Colorado, where you can land and takeoff at the highest airport in the United States. The rest of the day will be spent doing touch-and-go's.
Day 5 - Like yesterday, you will spend half the day flying. We will continue where we left off the day before on airport departures and arrivals. We will also be doing some basic aerial work and emergency procedures in the aircraft to prepare for the Private Pilot Cross-Country Training Expedition that start the next day.
Day 6 - THE ADVENTURE BEGINS! Following a morning briefing, we start out slowly in the exciting environment of the Rocky Mountain region as we head north from Salida to Buena Vista and Leadville, Colorado (highest paved airport in North America), after getting your certificate for landing at this famous airport we will then continue north over Tennessee pass to a few other northern Colorado airports. We then have lunch in Laramie, Wyoming. We will practice landing and take off through the eastern Wyoming backcountry on our way to Custer, South Dakota, for the night.
Day 7 - We'll start the day with a short flight to Mt. Rushmore and then head due west for Sheridan, Wyoming. Along the way, you'll continue to practice landings and takeoffs at several northern Wyoming airports. We will also do some advanced flight training with the Garmin G1000. After we stop for lunch in Sheridan, Wyoming, we continue on to Cody and finally we end the day in beautiful Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Day 8 - We will continue south from Jackson Hole to Alpine, Afton and then Evanston, Wyoming as we continue to learn the G1000 and enjoy more backcountry flight training. We will stop in Heber City/Sundance for lunch. After lunch we will fly to Moab, Utah, with a couple of stops along the way. At the end of the day, you'll be at the highest commercial airport in the USA - Telluride, Colorado.
Day 9 - Today we head back to home base, but on the way you may have a stop over in Aspen, Colorado -- even if it's just to say you did. We will end the day back in the Arkansas Valley
Day 10 - 16 - We will spend the next few days continuing your flight training near our local airport. We will be taking a few long days to go to several other Colorado airports for your training.
Days 17 - 18 - As we get to the end of your training, we will be spending more time in areas that we feel you may need a bit more training in and getting you trained as a Private Pilot. If we find you are prepared to take the Private Pilot Practical Test we will be getting all your paperwork in order for your check ride. (You should have already set-up your FAA IACRA account by now with our help.)
Remaining Days - We will be working with you to get you ready for your check ride during the remaining days. You should be able to take your check ride between the 19th and 21st training day.

Student Requirements:
No specified minimum age to begin dual flight training. Must be 16 years of age to solo, 17 years of age to take the Practical Exam for the license. Obtain a 3rd class FAA medical exam. No previous flight experience necessary. Valid Passport or Birth Certificate.
Have taken and passed the FAA written knowledge exam. (contact us if you for arrangements if you haven't taken the test)

Training items student needs to bring with them:
(All these items come in the DVD courses listed below)

Private Pilot Knowledge exam guide with computer test supplement.
Private pilot textbook: a book about flight, aerodynamics, systems, procedures, etc.
The Federal Aviation Regulations and Aeronautical Information Manual: a book that explains the laws and procedures associated with flight.
Private Pilot Oral Exam Guide: a book that explains and outlines in detail what to expect on your private pilot oral exam.
Practical Test Standards: a book that explains and outlines what you will be expected to perform on your private pilot flight test.
Plotter: A device used to chart courses, measure distances, and find compass headings for flight.
E6B Flight computer: A tool used to calculate speed, time and distance; fuel consumption, wind correction angles, and many other functions used in flight.
Pilot Log Book: Used to keep a record of what’s done on every flight as well as sign-offs for specific levels of training, test preparations, and endorsements.

DVD recommended courses:
Sporty's Private Pilot Ground School King Schools Private Pilot Ground School

Students contemplating completing the program in 18-21 days should have completed the Private Pilot knowledge test prior to beginning the flight training. This will give you the best chance of completing your private pilot course in the allotted time.
Students who have not taken their private pilot written can either take the exam the first day they arrive, or plan on 1-2 additional days and paying an additional $495.00 per day for ground training to prepare for the FAA Private Pilot Written Exam. You will need to contact us before you send in your application if you have not taken the written exam.

18 day Accelerated Private Pilot Course Fee:

In your Aircraft: $5,350
In a Gobosh 700S: $9,150
The hour requirements and associated costs are based on the average training time to complete the course and pass the FAA Practical Test. Your actual time to completion will vary. All prices subject to change without notice.
What is included in the Private Pilot Adventure Course fee:
Up to 40 hours of flight time(wet) if using one of our aircraft
Up to 18 days of flight and ground instruction
Mountain and Canyon flight training
Access to our DVD flight training collection

What is not included and additional costs:

Lodging: You will be responsible for your lodging while in the Arkansas Valley area. Lodging typically runs from $65-$85 per night for a nice motel/hotel. If you prefer a bed & breakfast type of lodging, they run from $65-$125 per night in the Arkansas Valley area. Lodging is higher in the mid-summer months. While on the cross-country adventure, you are responsible for your lodging plus the instructor's lodging. We will work with each student to stay within their budget for lodging.

Daily Instruction Rate: Our daily rate for private pilot instruction is $375 per day (6 hours max per day) after 18 days or $75.00 per hour.

Miscellaneous Costs: Students are also responsible for rental cars, taxis, tips and their meals.
Medical exam fee: Approximately $80-$100
Knowledge exam fee: Approximately $80-$90
Oral & Practical exam fee: Approximately $400-$450

Deposit and Payment:
A $1,250 deposit is required with the application. The remaining course fee is due 45 days before training date.
Aircraft Purchase by Student Pilots: After several years of working with new student pilots and training them in their aircraft we have decided to offer a free service to our student pilots.


We will help you in your aircraft purchase at no charge. We have seen several new pilots buy the wrong aircraft when they start their flight training and we just want you to get the most out of your investment in aviation.

You can now tap into our aircraft buying experience at no extra cost to you (of course tips are accepted).