Learning to fly here in North-Central Florida is a great experience. There are so many airports nearby to fly to and test the skies. Believe it or not, but the sky is crowded. Here in Florida we have great weather, especially in the cooler months, for a great flying experience. Take advantage of all the airports nearby to go somewhere new and get some practice. First off, you need to find a local flight instruction school. Here are some options right here in Gainesville:
University Air Center
4701 NE 40th Terrace Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 335-4681
University Air Center is an FAA approved flight school that offers flight instruction, fueling services and a testing center. This flight school has several planes including two Cessna172s that were built in 2008. These planes offer state-of-the-art technology for $139 per hour. Both of the planes include the G1000, the most up-to-date flight panel available. The price includes fuel and flying but not an instructor, which usually costs about $30 an hour. The school also offers a variety of instructors to choose from.
One added benefit of University Air Center is the opportunity to train in a high-tech flight simulator that incorporates all of the newest technologies of a Cessna172 for half the cost of actually flying. The simulator, a Redbird, costs $60 an hour and is said to be extremely realistic to actual flight.
Sky Chiefs Aviation
4440 NE 41st Terrace Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 562-6104
Sky Chiefs Aviation is also a full-service flight school that has a variety of planes to choose from and a friendly staff of four instructors and a "fleet" of three planes. This school has a smaller feel than University Air Center but their equipment is not as modern. Depending on what you're looking for, Sky Chfs is a great place to learn how to fly if you want a more personal experience.