Current news: Our aircraft is currently in maintenance and we are only training in customer aircraft. We will remove this notice when our aircraft is back up for customers. Last update – September 20, 2023
Texas Tailwheel is a small independently owned & operated flight training provider currently operating in the Dallas area. We’ve been teaching tailwheel for over 10 years and our goal is to help you reach your flight training goals in a safe, efficient, and cost-effective manner.
Our primary instructor, Ryan, 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 6300 hours of single-engine aircraft flight time, including over 1100 hours of tailwheel experience and 2300 hours of instruction. His background includes experience flying a wide range of 40+ types of small aircraft, including a range of tailwheel aircraft. Along the way he has owned several aircraft including Taylorcraft BC-12s, a Piper Colt, Cessna 172, Piper PA-20 Pacer, Cessna 120, and currently a Luscombe 8A.
Availability:
Ryan is available by appointment, outside of his primary commitments to his aerial photography work and family time. We are currently only accepting dual only clients for tailwheel endorsements, flight reviews, or checkouts and general proficiency training since we do not have access to a good primary trainer for private pilots at this time, although we will work with 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 clients.
Pricing:
Tailwheel endorsement or proficiency flight training:
We’ve gone to a flat rate due to trying to simplify payments.
$300 flat rate per 2 hour lesson block / flight training session when using our aircraft. This includes 2 hours of instructor time, and 1.1-1.5 hours of aircraft time, depending on the student and conditions.
When using a client’s normally certified light aircraft $140 per 2 hour blocks, flat rate. Experimental, complex, or high-performance aircraft training starts at $150 per block and you are responsible to make sure that the letter of authorization is ready to go if it is an experimental aircraft.
Every individual is different, but our experience is that most pilots will need between 4-12 flights to earn their tailwheel endorsement. My shortest endorsement 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!
Aircraft:
Our instructor’s current personal aircraft is a Luscombe 8A. It is currently under maintenance, but if we are comfortable with the outcome of that maintenance, it will be available for students again in the future. The Luscombe is a classic two-seat side-by side trainer that features honest handling characteristics and a stick instead of a yoke.
Current operating expenses (Spring 2023) are roughly $130/hr. ($125 x 1.6 would be $200 of the $300 per session) – which is currently under relatively dramatic flux due to rising gas, oil, hangar, insurance, and maintenance prices. Since insurance only allows us to offer dual instruction, it is wrapped up in the lesson cost if you do not have an aircraft to use.
Location: Our primary aircraft is located about 25 minutes south of downtown Dallas at 25XS – Moonbow 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 is also a professional photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography and 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 us if you are interested.
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, 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)
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!