Current news: Coming soon – we will soon be taking on new students, making some changes, and hopefully announcing a new aircraft! The book of May is currently booked, but we will be taking new bookings starting May 25th.
Last update – April 28, 2025
Basic Tailwheel Package – Ten hour package – Pricing to be recalculated in May.
This package covers:
– Up to 7 flight lessons
– Up to 10 hours of flight time in a Cessna 120 or Aircraft X (approximately $XXXX – check for current pricing as this is subject to change.)
– 14 total hours of instructor time
– A tailwheel endorsement is expected at or before course completion but it is not guaranteed.
If further lessons are needed, the client will be clearly informed of any reason(s) necessitating further training. Demonstrated safe and repeatable operations are prerequisites for course graduation.
Every individual is different, but our experience is that most pilots will need between 5-12 flights to earn their tailwheel endorsement. Ryan’s shortest endorsement given was 3 flight hours total for a helicopter pilot who was proficient and very, very good with the rudder pedals from the start. If you’re that good, we promise we won’t hold you back!
Availability:
Ryan is available by appointment, outside of his primary commitments to his aerial photography work and family time. He mainly accepts clients for tailwheel endorsements, flight reviews, aircraft checkouts, and for general proficiency training. Ryan is not currently accepting primary students except on a case-by-case basis for customers who have their own aircraft. If you have an aircraft and would be interested in our services, please send a message! We would also be happy to help you work out a way to rent an aircraft to our clients.
Pricing:
Hourly tailwheel endorsement or proficiency flight training:
For most individual flights we use a flat rate to simplify payments and encourage efficient use of time. Unless the flight is a cross-country we book by 2 hour lesson block / flight training sessions. This includes 2-2.5 hours of instructor time, and 1.1-1.6 hours of aircraft time, depending on the student and conditions.
When using a client’s normally certified light aircraft our current rate is $160 per 2 hour blocks, flat rate. For experimental, complex, or high-performance aircraft, training starts at $180 per block.
Aircraft:
We have access to a Cessna 120, which is our main aircraft to use right now, but it is an aircraft owned by some other pilots and shared with others. We also hope to announce a new aircraft soon!
Location: The Cessna 120 is currently available in Rockwall at F46. Ryan’s home base is KRBD – Dallas Executive Airport.
Consulting: If you are interested in purchasing or selling an aircraft or would like to get an opinion on an light single-engine aircraft in the DFW area, get help with a checkout, review logbooks, or other similar things, we can help.
Photography: Ryan’s current primary employment is as a professional photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography . We can arrange to help take photos of your aircraft, or help you with other photography projects. Contact for details and rates.
Aircraft flown / Insurance Checkouts
If you are looking for an instructor for insurance checkouts, give us a call. We have flown in over 40 types of aircraft and can probably meet your insurance’s requirements.
Instructor Ferry for Insurance purposes
If you are purchasing and aircraft and need to have dual instruction in order to qualify for insurance, a ride-along instructor to bring your aircraft home may be an effective way to get to know your new aircraft. Call for details and pricing.
Below is a list of aircraft Ryan has flown:
Acroduster Two Biplane (Experimental), Aeronca Champ (7AC and 7FC) 11AC, Aeronca Chief, American Champion Decathlon, Apollo Fox SLSA, Aviat Husky (A-1B, C), Avid Mk III, Beechcraft BE-36 Bonanza, Beechcraft Travel Air, Beechcraft BE-55 Baron, Bellanca Citabria, Boeing Stearman, Cessna 120, Cessna 140, Cessna 150 Commuter, Cessna 152 Aerobat, Cessna 162 Skycatcher, Cessna 170, 170A, and 170B, Cessna 172 Skyhawk (K,M,N,S), Cessna 172RG Cutlass, Cessna 177RG Cardinal, Cessna 180 Skywagon, Cessna 182P Skylane, Cessna T182T, Cessna 210H Centurion, CH601, Citabria 7GCBC, Bellanca Citabria 7ECA, Cozy MKIV, CTSW, Cubcrafters Carbon Cub, Diamond DA-20 Katana, Grumman AA-1B, Grumman AA-5A, Grumman AA-5B, Glasair 1, Glastar, Kolb III, Luscombe 8A, Mooney M20T Acclaim, Mooney M20P, Piper L-4 Grasshopper, Piper J-3 Cub, Piper PA-15 Vagabond, Piper PA-22-150 Pacer conversion, Piper PA-22-108 Colt, Piper PA-22-150 Tri-Pacer, Piper PA-18 Super Cub, Piper PA-38 Tomahawk, Piper PA-28-140, Piper PA-28-180, Piper PA-28-161, Piper PA-28-181 Archer, Piper PA-28R-200 Arrow III, Piper PA-28RT-200 Arrow IV, Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche, Piper PA-32-260, Rans S7 (Rotax 582), SA-160 Symphony, Skyranger, Sonex, Stinson L-5 Sentinel, Stinson 108-2, Taylorcraft L-2M Grasshopper, Taylorcraft BC12D, Van’s RV-3, Van’s RV-6, Van’s RV-6A, Wichawk Biplane (Experimental)
About us :
Texas Tailwheel is a small independently owned & operated flight training provider currently operating in the Dallas area. Ryan has been teaching tailwheel for over 10 years and his goal is to help you reach your flight training goals in a safe, efficient, and cost-effective manner. Our primary instructor is a 6th generation Texan who has been flying since 2003. He is currently employed full time an aerial photographer and he enjoys instructing pilots on the side. He has over 6950 hours of single-engine aircraft flight time, including over 1100 hours of tailwheel experience and 2400 hours of instruction. His background includes experience flying a wide range of 40+ types of small aircraft, including a wide range of tailwheel aircraft. Along the way he has owned several aircraft including two Taylorcraft BC-12s, a Piper Colt, Cessna 172, Piper PA-20 Pacer, Cessna 120, and a Luscombe 8A. Currently, Ryan is not maintaining a personal aircraft.
To schedule a flight or chat with the instructor please text or call (469)-740-2222. Please leave a detailed message if we are flying or unavailable, or email us at: tailwheelflightinstructor@gmail.com
Below is a video of a student Ryan soloed in a Piper Cub back in 2012 down in the San Antonio area.
Thank you for visiting!