RK Flight Training
Falcon Field (KFFZ), Mesa, Arizona

Learn to fly over the Sonoran Desert.

Two independent flight instructors, one well-kept Piper Cherokee 140, and honest hourly rates. From your first discovery flight to your commercial checkride, you train one-on-one with someone who knows your name.

Book a discovery flight See lessons and rates
  • CFI
  • CFII
  • MEI
  • Insured instructors
  • Own-aircraft training
Phoenix sectional chart showing Falcon Field, the Salt River and Saguaro Lake
Falcon Field to Saguaro Lake, roughly 12 nm. Chart excerpt, not for navigation.
$35 /hr
Flight instruction
Dual instruction in the airplane
$25 /hr
Ground instruction
Briefings, test prep, debriefs
$170 /hr
Piper Cherokee 140, wet
Fuel included, billed on Hobbs time

Meet your instructors

Request either of us, or let us match you with whoever's schedule fits yours.

Sean flying the Cherokee, smiling in the left seat

Sean Rappaport

  • CFI
  • CFII
  • MEI

Hi, I'm Sean! I'm originally from New York and moved out to Arizona to attend ASU. Before becoming a flight instructor, I worked as an LOA. I'm dedicated to training the next generation of pilots, and I genuinely love flying.

I'm a friendly, easygoing instructor and I'm always happy to meet new people, so expect a relaxed and encouraging cockpit. When I'm not flying, you'll find me on the golf course, watching sports with my friends, or checking out cars. I love cars almost as much as airplanes.


Kit flying a Cessna with a glass cockpit over the desert

Kit Kuhns

  • CFI
  • CFII

Hi, I'm Kit! I'm originally from Reno, Nevada, and I'm currently working toward my economics degree while instructing. I love sharing the freedom of flight, and I believe great pilots are built on solid fundamentals, clear explanations and plenty of patience.

Whether you're nervous about your very first flight or polishing up for a checkride, I'll meet you where you are and make sure every lesson has a clear plan. When I'm not flying, I'm usually out golfing or fishing. Sean and I started RK Flight Training to give students in the Valley personal, one-on-one instruction at a fair price.


Sean holding his new certificate on checkride day, in front of a regional jet
Sean's checkride day.
Kit holding his new certificate next to a Cessna on the ramp
Kit's checkride day.

Where to start

Most people begin with a discovery flight. Already a pilot? Jump straight to the training or currency work you need.

Start here

Discovery flight

About $205
1 hour in the Cherokee with an instructor
  • Preflight briefing and walk-around
  • You take the controls, we're beside you the whole time
  • Logged as dual instruction toward your license
  • Fly over the Superstitions, Salt River or Saguaro Lake

The Cherokee has limited weight capacity, especially on hot days. Tell us everyone's approximate weight when you book.

Book a discovery flight

Certificates and ratings

$35 /hr flight
$25/hr ground. Cherokee $170/hr wet, or bring your own airplane.
  • Private pilot
  • Instrument rating
  • Commercial pilot
  • Ground lessons and checkride prep
Get started

Proficiency and currency

$35 /hr flight
$25/hr ground
  • Flight reviews
  • Instrument proficiency checks
  • Training in your own aircraft
  • Brush-up lessons after time away
Schedule time

What we teach

Certificates and ratings

  • Private pilot
  • Instrument rating
  • Commercial pilot
  • Ground school
  • Checkride prep

Proficiency and currency

  • Flight reviews
  • Instrument proficiency checks
  • Currency and brush-up flying
  • Training in your own airplane

First flights

  • Discovery flights
  • Scenic flights over the East Valley
  • One-on-one ground lessons

Where we fly

Our home base is Falcon Field in Mesa, where our Cherokee lives. If you own an airplane, we'll come to you.

  • KFFZFalcon Field, home base
  • KCHDChandler Municipal
  • KIWAPhoenix-Mesa Gateway
  • KSDLScottsdale
  • KDVTDeer Valley
  • KGEUGlendale Municipal
  • KGYRPhoenix Goodyear
  • MoreAsk about your field

Where to meet us

For lessons at Falcon Field, meet us at Eastin Aviation, 2550 N Thunderbird Cir, Suite 123A, Mesa, AZ. Please arrive 15 minutes early with a photo ID.

Get directions

Own a plane? We'll come to you.

We're happy to relocate to your airport and train you in your own aircraft, whether it's for a certificate, a rating, a flight review, an IPC, or getting comfortable in a plane you just bought.

  • Instruction at $35/hr flight, $25/hr ground
  • No rental fee, since you're flying your own plane
  • Your insurance must cover us as instructors
Book in your aircraft
Our Piper Cherokee 140 on a desert runway with mountains behind it

Piper Cherokee 140

The Piper Cherokee is an excellent training airplane: simple, reliable and cost-effective. It's known for its sturdy construction and forgiving flight characteristics, and its stable handling and gentle stalls give students a safe place to learn and practice maneuvers.

Ours is updated with modern glass-cockpit avionics that present clear, accurate flight information and build good situational awareness. They're similar to the systems in much larger aircraft, so you get an early introduction to what you'll fly later in your career, and the automation lets you focus on flight dynamics, navigation and weather.

Rate
$170 per Hobbs hour, fuel included
Avionics
Modern glass cockpit (model details coming soon)
Based at
Falcon Field (KFFZ), Mesa AZ

Training programs

The key FAA minimums for each certificate, rating and check. Everyone progresses differently, so we'll build a plan around where you are today.

Private pilot

40 hours minimum flight time
  • 20 hours with an instructor, 10 hours solo
  • 3 hours each of cross-country, night and instrument training
  • A solo cross-country of at least 150 nm with landings at three airports
  • 3 hours of checkride prep in the final 2 months

14 CFR 61.109 and the Private Pilot ACS. Most students need more than the minimum.

Instrument rating

50 hours cross-country as PIC
  • 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time
  • 15 of those hours with a CFII
  • A 250 nm IFR cross-country with three different types of approaches
  • 3 hours of checkride prep in the final 2 months

14 CFR 61.65 and the Instrument Rating ACS.

Commercial pilot

250 hours total time
  • 20 hours of training, including 10 in a complex or technically advanced airplane
  • 2-hour day and night dual cross-countries
  • A 300 nm solo cross-country and 5 hours of solo night flying
  • 3 hours of checkride prep in the final 2 months

14 CFR 61.129 and the Commercial Pilot ACS.

Flight review

Every 24 calendar months
  • At least 1 hour of ground and 1 hour of flight training
  • Built around the kind of flying you actually do
  • A new certificate or rating also counts as a flight review

14 CFR 61.56.

Instrument proficiency check

Needed after 6 months past currency
  • Holds, intercepting and tracking courses, and unusual attitudes
  • Precision and non-precision approaches, plus missed approaches
  • Partial-panel work and circling as needed

14 CFR 61.57(d) and the Instrument Rating ACS.

Ground lessons

$25 per hour
  • Knowledge test prep
  • Checkride oral prep
  • Any topic you want to work through one-on-one

What will my private pilot license cost?

The FAA minimum is 40 hours, but most students finish in 55 to 70. Slide to see what your training might cost at our rates.

About 10 of the flight hours are solo, with no instructor fee. The estimate accounts for that.

Airplane ($170/hr wet)
Flight instruction ($35/hr)
Ground instruction ($25/hr)
Estimated training total

Not included: FAA medical exam, the written knowledge test fee, the examiner's checkride fee, a headset, and books or apps. Ask us for current prices.

Start with a discovery flight

Give the gift of flight

A discovery flight gift certificate is a gift people never forget. Perfect for birthdays, holidays and graduations.

Discovery flight$2051 hour in the Cherokee with an instructor
Flight credit$100Toward any lesson
Flight credit$250Toward any lesson
Flight credit$500Toward any lesson
  1. Pick a gift and paySend the amount by Venmo or Zelle (see Payment below). Put "Gift" and the recipient's name in the note.
  2. Tell us who it's forFill out the short form so we know where to send it.
  3. Get your certificateWe email you a printable gift certificate within 24 hours. It's valid for 5 years.

Book a lesson

Tell us what you'd like to do and when you're free. We'll confirm a time within a day.

  1. Send a requestPick your training, instructor and preferred times.
  2. We confirmWe'll text or email you with a confirmed time.
  3. Meet us at Eastin AviationArrive at Falcon Field 15 minutes early with your ID, and your logbook if you have one.
  4. Pay after the lessonVenmo or Zelle, based on actual flight and ground time.

What would you like to book?

Step 1 of 5

Who would you like to fly with?

Step 2 of 5

When and where?

Step 3 of 5. Summer lessons fly best early in the morning, before the heat and bumps.

Your details

Step 4 of 5

Review and send

Step 5 of 5. Nothing is booked until we confirm with you.

Send with Gmail Send by text

Estimates are based on a typical lesson; you pay for actual time after the lesson. Please give 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule.

Payment

Pay your instructor after each lesson for the actual flight and ground time. We'll send you the total before you leave the airport. Please add your lesson date in the payment note.

Paying Sean

Venmo

Zelle

Paying Kit

Venmo

Zelle

Common questions

Do I need any experience for a discovery flight?

None at all. You'll get a short briefing on the ground, then fly the airplane yourself with an instructor in the right seat the whole time.

Does the discovery flight count toward my license?

Yes. Time with a flight instructor is logged as dual instruction and counts toward the Private Pilot certificate. Bring a logbook or we can start one for you.

What do I need to start private pilot training?

To solo you'll need a student pilot certificate (free through IACRA) and an FAA medical certificate. We'll walk you through both on your first lesson.

Are you insured?

Yes. Both of our instructors carry insurance, so you can train with confidence.

Can you train me in my own airplane?

Yes, and we'll come to your airport. Before the first lesson, check that your insurance policy covers flight instruction by a CFI. Tell us your aircraft type when you book so we can prepare.

What's your cancellation policy?

Please give at least 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule. Late cancellations and no-shows may be charged one hour of instruction ($35). Weather and maintenance cancellations are always free.

Is there a weight limit?

The Cherokee 140 can only carry so much weight, and Phoenix heat reduces that further in summer. Tell us the approximate weight of everyone flying when you book, and we'll confirm it works or suggest a cooler morning time.

Do gift certificates expire?

Gift certificates are valid for 5 years from the date of purchase.

What happens if the weather is bad?

We'll reschedule at no charge or switch to a ground lesson if you'd like. In summer we fly early to avoid afternoon heat and monsoon storms.

Can I bring a passenger?

On a scenic or discovery flight, yes. Tell us how many people and their approximate weights when you book so we can plan weight and balance.

RK FLIGHT TRAINING MESA · ARIZONA

Talk to us

Questions before you book? Call, text or email.

Sean Rappaport
Kit Kuhns
Where to meet usEastin Aviation at Falcon Field
2550 N Thunderbird Cir, Suite 123A
Mesa, AZ
Get directions