Fly Our Airplanes

After 40 years as a purely social club, Flying Club 1 is building a 2-seat airplane suitable for instructing. We aim to become an inexpensive but safe door through which new and younger pilots can get into aviation.

1. Our Airplanes

Our Trainer

In 2024, Navy pilot LCDR "Short Round" Abriams (pictured) generously offered a Challenger II kit to the Club on the condition that we finish it. We intend to do this in time for the 2025 flying season.
This Challenger has a Rotax 582 engine. We will not use the floats that came with kit as they make performance ponderous.

We know from long experience that this kind of lightweight, inexpensive airplane is the key to economical flying. You will probably not be flying it to the Outer Banks (although you could ). But in exchange for not being able to fly fast and far, we get low fuel consumption and a $35/hour member rate (dry). That makes learning to fly affordable.

We hope to hangar it at the Culpeper Airport (KCJR) in Northern Virginia. However, we do not yet have a hangar there, so the location could change.

Our Ultralight

It's not enough to train pilots; once they're trained, they need something economical to fly. That's why our plan is to acquire an ultralight. We have the offer of this Flightstar Spyder. Back in the day, it was the Cadillac of ultralights. With new wing covers and professional maintenance, it has many more years to give. We will accept the plane once we have a hangar for it and the $3,500 to replace the wing covers.

2. What It Costs

2.1 One-Month Trial

The Club offers a non-renewable 30-day trial for $60. Use this to see if our kind of flying is for you. During this time, you can fly our 2-seat airplane with a Certified Flight Instructor (who will charge you for their time). You may not fly the ultralight (if we have one at that time). Since you will not officially be the Pilot In Command, you don’t need to buy insurance. Realistically, between the weather, instructor availability and your own schedule, expect two flights.

2.2 Flying Privileges

• Dues: $700/year. Flying privileges run for one year from the date you pay.
• Insurance: ~$550/year. Members with flying privileges must carry non-owned aircraft insurance that includes aircraft damage.
• Deposit. If the insurance policy you buy has a deductible (many don't), then we require a refundable deposit equal to the deductible amount. You'll get this back when you leave flying status having paid for any aircraft damage you caused.
• $35/flight hour, dry. “Dry” means that you supply the fuel. Figure $15/hr for this, so $50/hour all up.

2.3 Instruction

But what if you don't have a pilot's license? You can hire an FAA-licensed Certified Flight Instructor — a “CFI” — to train you in our 2-seat airplane. We're still working on arrangements with CFIs, but figure roughly $60/hour. You have two options:

• Sport Pilot license. This is the beginning-level FAA pilot's license. With it you can fly our 2-seat airplane and can take a passenger. You do not need a flight medical; your driver's license will do. You'll be restricted to Light Sport Aircraft and to daytime non-instrument flying. If you later want to go for a Private Pilot's license, your hours applied to the Sport Pilot license will count towards it.
• Ultralight flying. You can fly an ultralight without an FAA license. To fly our ultralight, you'll need the same training as for a Sport Pilot license minus the FAA check ride at the end.

3. How to Get Flying Privileges

It's early days for us. We're still putting our procedures in place. But they'll probably look like this.

3.1 Join Flying Club 1

Only Club members (and instructors) can fly our airplanes. Join the Club for $20/year.

3.2 Do a 1-Month Trial for $60

For $60, you can fly our 2-seat trainer for a month with an instructor to see if this kind of flying is for you. In addition to the $60, you’ll be paying the instructor for their time and also $35/hour for the airplane, plus gas. The trial period is for one month only and is not renewable. Realistically, between the weather, instructor availability and your own schedule, expect two flights. If you’re interested, contact the Club president, Steve Beste at President@FlyingClub1.org.

3.3 Read the Deal

Read The Deal to understand what we’re offering and decide if this is for you.

3.4 Read Our Rates

The Rate Sheet lists what we charge people who fly our airplanes.

3.5 Review the Application Process

The Application Process document lays out who does what when.

3.6 Let Us Know You’re Interested

After reading the above, contact the Club president, Steve Beste, at President@FlyingClub1.org and let him know that you’re interested. We’re currently setting things up. He’ll give you the latest information on what to do. That will start with our giving you an account in Flight Circle, our airplane scheduling app.

3.7 Complete the Waiver of Liability

The Club asks you to sign a pretty severe Waiver of Liability. Read it now to be sure you're OK with it. It's a PDF that you can fill out electronically now. Later, Flight Circle will ask you to upload it and sign it digitally the first time you log in.

3.8 Send the Club Your Application

Fill out the Application. This is a PDF that you can fill out electronically now. Later, Flight Circle will ask you to upload it the first time you log in.

3.9 Pay

Once you're set up in Flight Circle, you can pay there with a credit card, either for the trial period or the year.

3.10 Obtain Non-Owned Aircraft Insurance

To fly our airplanes solo — whether as a student or as a licensed pilot — you’ll need to buy non-owned aircraft insurance in the amount specified in the rate sheet.

If the policy you buy includes a deductible for aircraft damage, you’ll need to give the Club a refundable deposit in that amount. For example, if your policy has a $500 deductible, you’ll need to give the Club a deposit of $500. You’ll get it back when you surrender flying privileges and have paid any outstanding bills.

3.11 Get Briefed on the Airplane

You’ll need and want to attend a briefing by our Maintenance Chief. Held in the hangar at Culpeper, this will teach you about our airplane(s) in particular. Here, you will also:

• Get access to the hangar.
• Go over the Club’s Operating Rules, including our routines for gas and oil, and preflight and postflight inspections.

3.12 Take a Check Ride or Training

3.12.1 If you already have an FAA pilot’s license

• You'll take a check ride with a CFI approved by the Club. They will either sign you off to fly a Club plane or say that you need more training. They will also teach you what to watch for in our low–mass high–drag airplanes.
• Once the CFI notifies the Club’s Flight Operations Chief, you’re good to go.

3.12.2 If you don’t have an FAA pilot’s license

If you do not have a pilot’s license, make arrangements with a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) who works with the Club. They will train you. Once the CFI signs you off to solo, you'll need to buy renter's insurance to fly solo.

• If you're aiming for an FAA Sport Pilot license, you can fly solo in the 2-seat airplane for 90 days while you practice (an FAA rule).
• If you are just aiming for the ultralight, your instructor will have you solo in the 2-seater. After they think you've had enough practice flying solo, they will check you out for the Club's ultralight. At that point, you’re done. You can fly the ultralight (but not the 2-seater, as that requires an FAA Sport Pilot license). Welcome to the world aloft.

4. Maintain Currency

We want all our pilots to fly frequently! If you haven't flown for 90 days, you'll need to pass another checkride with a CFI approved by the Club.

5. References

Application Documents

1. The Deal
2. Rate Sheet
3. Application Process
4. Application
5. Waiver of Liability

Operating Documents

1. Rules for flying our airplanes
2. Culpeper Airport Rules
3. Passenger Waiver