Outside of the Air Force, there are typically two types of people who learn to fly aircraft.
The first wants an occupation – something with a six-figure salary right out of the gate, and which is infinitely more interesting than gawking at an endless procession of pixels.
The second is no stranger to six-figure salaries. They have already mastered their surroundings, and now wish to take to the heavens like Apollo on his golden chariot.
AV8 Flight School turns both into pilots. It is the only Twin Cities flight school offering both airplane and helicopter training, and it is quite naturally located at Flying Cloud Airport.
“It didn’t always used to be that way,” said George Lichty, AV8 general manager and helicopter certified flight instructor. “We were founded as Hummingbird Ventures in 2002, and exclusively trained helicopter pilots at Faribault Municipal Airport until moving to Flying Cloud two years later.
“We welcomed Ryan Kotula as a student in 2016. I instructed him myself. But instead of leaving Hummingbird as a pilot, he stayed on as its new owner. He reinvigorated the school by purchasing it a fleet of six beautiful modern airplanes, as well as remodeling its office and hangar into brighter, fresher, and altogether more inviting spaces.”
Hummingbird grew in leaps and bounds over the years. Five employees became 39, with as many as 18 instructors at any given time. Fourteen hundred flight hours a year grew to 9,400. And once the school became as highly regarded for fixed wing training as it had previously only been for rotary, a hovering bird no longer properly represented it. AV8 first took off in 2019.
“We owe a lot of our success to the nature of our product,” explained George. “There will always be high demand for pure, heart-racing, three-dimensional freedom. Getting up there and out where no one else is around, and taking any path to anywhere you feel like going? It’s total liberation … like jazz, except if jazz were a roller coaster.
“It’s not for everyone. Some folks can only learn to tolerate flight. Others decide to take up sailing instead. But if you’re like me – and you can’t know if you are until you’ve actually tried flying – then you can never learn to live without it. You’re hooked the instant the altimeter breaks ground level.”
I have no business behind the yoke or cyclic stick of an aircraft. I’m such a lousy driver that I have to apologize to Progressive in advance every time I touch a steering wheel. Speaking as an obligate terrestrial creature, I appreciate AV8’s state-of-the-art Redbird flight simulator. “Our full-motion stationary sim provides an incredibly realistic experience,” said George. “It’s invaluable for multiple types of instruction and licensing, and also provides a great introduction to all we have to offer. Check it out if you’re still debating leaving the ground!
“When we first started out, our average student was 55 years old. They were successful in their career, and wanted to celebrate by sticking the ultimate feather in their cap; or, alternatively, had worked as a commercial airline pilot, and now wanted to try out the other, more exciting (in my opinion) thing.
“AV8 still welcomes plenty of hobbyists, but I’m pleased to say our attempts to reach aspiring professionals have really paid off. By partnering with Purdue and Liberty University to make more financial aid available, we’re welcoming increasing numbers of students in their 20s.
“We’re helping these kids achieve freedom in more ways than one. Far be it from me to tell anyone not to go to college, but an exciting career where you’re highly respected, equally valued, and at liberty to work anywhere you want – and however often you want – is much more attainable than most people think. The world needs pilots!
“And it needs them in all shapes and sizes. At present, only around four to six percent of commercial airline pilots are women. We’re doing our part to help correct that discrepancy, and are proud to participate in Minnesota Aviation Career Education Camp, Stars of the North’s annual Girls in Aviation Day, and other programs which introduce young women to exciting careers in aviation. We now have a 25 percent female student body to show for our efforts.
“Flight is the great equalizer. It doesn’t matter if you’re a millionaire or you haven’t got two dimes to rub together. There’s a place in the sky for everyone. Getting them there is our passion!”
Do you feel like a fraud every time you wear aviator sunglasses? Do something about it. Call (952) 944-2628 or visit AV8Flight.com today.
"It’s total liberation … like jazz, except if jazz were a roller coaster."