Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Where are you located?
We are located at the Lebanon-Warren County Airport in Lebanon, Ohio. See the Contact page for a map and other details on contacting the club.
How do i join the Flying Neutrons?
Joining our club is a simple process. You just need to contact a member of our membership committee, which recruits and screens all applicants. You can do this in one of the following ways:
- Send an email to FlyingNeutronsClub@gmail.com: Let us know your name, phone, and pilot status (interested in learning to fly, already a pilot, your hours/ratings, etc.) so we can get the right people to respond back to you.
OR - Download, fill out, and mail an application. This will trigger a call from the membership committee to arrange a meeting for a two way information sharing session.
Why should I join the Flying Neutrons?
Club-approved instructors will help you get your ratings and help you keep your flying skills sharp
We have about 12 club-approved FAA certified flight instructors in our membership who actively instruct as independent contractors. They have many years of experience and instruct for the love of flying, not just to build time for the airlines. As a result, their students are thoroughly prepared for a lifetime of safe and enjoyable flying, not just the minimum needed to pass the flight and knowledge exams. Click here for more information on flight training with The Flying Neutrons.
We have the low cost way to learn and to fly
Our rates are better than you'll find elsewhere in the area for comparable aircraft. Our Operations rules support realistic use of the fleet. There are no trip minimums--you pay only the hours you fly. We measure tach time, not Hobbs time. This can provide an additional 5-15% savings, as tach times tend to run under Hobbs time. See more details on how you will save money by clicking here.
Be a part of a strong community of fellow pilots
We have Monthly club meetings for governance and operations. Semi-annual plane washes build camaraderie and keeps our planes looking great. We have an annual banquet with informative and interesting aviation speakers. And you can almost always find someone just hanging around the clubhouse on a nice afternoon.
Insurance coverage is provided for members
The Flying Neutrons is proud to provide safe and economical access to planes. We carry insurance from certified companies and provide coverage that is often much better than what a pilot would be able to obtain privately. Contact our insurance chairman for more details.
We have about 12 club-approved FAA certified flight instructors in our membership who actively instruct as independent contractors. They have many years of experience and instruct for the love of flying, not just to build time for the airlines. As a result, their students are thoroughly prepared for a lifetime of safe and enjoyable flying, not just the minimum needed to pass the flight and knowledge exams. Click here for more information on flight training with The Flying Neutrons.
We have the low cost way to learn and to fly
Our rates are better than you'll find elsewhere in the area for comparable aircraft. Our Operations rules support realistic use of the fleet. There are no trip minimums--you pay only the hours you fly. We measure tach time, not Hobbs time. This can provide an additional 5-15% savings, as tach times tend to run under Hobbs time. See more details on how you will save money by clicking here.
Be a part of a strong community of fellow pilots
We have Monthly club meetings for governance and operations. Semi-annual plane washes build camaraderie and keeps our planes looking great. We have an annual banquet with informative and interesting aviation speakers. And you can almost always find someone just hanging around the clubhouse on a nice afternoon.
Insurance coverage is provided for members
The Flying Neutrons is proud to provide safe and economical access to planes. We carry insurance from certified companies and provide coverage that is often much better than what a pilot would be able to obtain privately. Contact our insurance chairman for more details.
How do I save Money with the Flying Neutrons?
Besides all the other benefits of being part of a member-owned club, you can also save money on your flight expenses. You do this in several ways:
- Low hourly rates
Members pay just what it costs the club to keep the aircraft flying. There is no profit being made, so costs are kept to a minimum. Fixed costs are covered by the initial membership fee and monthly dues, while variable costs are covered by the hourly flying rate. - Time measured on the Tach, not the Hobbs meter
Members are charged by tach time, not Hobbs time. Practically all commercial FBOs and flight schools charge Hobbs time, which runs at a real-time rate while the engine is running. Tach time, however, runs faster when the engine is running faster (approximately real-time at a cruise power setting) and slower when the engine is running slower. The net effect is that you will see a lower tach time than Hobbs time for the same flight. For flights where you spend a lot of time at low power settings, such as practicing in the pattern, you could see savings of 10-15% over Hobbs time. We charge by tach time, because we are interested in only covering our costs, not making a profit. All hourly aircraft maintenance is based on tach time. - Insurance included as a club member
As a club member, you are provided insurance coverage while flying club airplanes. There is no need to obtain renter's insurance, which can save you hundreds of dollars a year. Contact our insurance chairman for more details.
How do I learn to fly?
You will find the instructors, aircraft, and support at The Flying Neutrons that will make learning to fly a quick and enjoyable process! Below is a summary of the different certificates and ratings you can earn.
Sport Pilot
The Sport Pilot certificate was introduced in 2004. The Sport Pilot certificate will enable you to learn to fly in much less time and for much less cost than other alternatives, while current pilots can transition to a simpler world of recreational flying. Sport pilots fly smaller, lighter, and less-complex airplanes known as light sport aircraft (LSA). A sport pilot is not required to possess an FAA medical certificate but may use a valid U.S. driver's license as proof of medical fitness.
The training for the Sport Pilot certificate is similar to that for the Private Pilot certificate (described below), but with fewer hours, among other differences. You need only 20 hours of flight time of which at least 15 hours must be flight instruction from a certificated flight instructor, and 3 hours of preparation within 60 days of the flight test. You must also have 5 hours of solo flight time, including a 75 nm Solo cross-country flight. Note, though, that these are simply minimums and most people will fly more in order to achieve the required level of proficiency. No instrument or night training is required. This is just a summary of key differences. Any of our instructors would be glad to explain to you all the differences in training for and using a Sport Pilot certificate.
Private Pilot
The Private Pilot certificate is your license to fly. This is the certificate that allows you to fly most anywhere you want, most anytime you want, by yourself or with passengers. At the Flying Neutrons, you will find the expertise and support that will make getting your certificate an enjoyable experience.
Your Private Pilot training will consist of two major components: Ground School and Flight Training. In Ground school you will learn everything you need to know to pass your written exam. Topics include navigation, meteorology, aerodynamics, regulations, and aircraft systems. You can either study the Ground School material on your own pace at home, or take a class.
Your Flight Training will consist of time spent with your instructor, called dual, and time spent practicing by yourself, called solo. During your dual time, your instructor will teach you how to control the airplane and how to perform the various maneuvers required to pass the FAA practical test and become a safe pilot.
Your first solo flight is something that you will remember forever! This normally occurs in your first 10 or 15 hours of training, but is different for each pilot. This is the first time you fly without an instructor on board the aircraft. You will then go on to practice the maneuvers that your instructor taught you during dual, and complete the solo requirements for the Private Pilot certificate.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) establishes minimum requirements for obtaining a Private Pilot Certificate:
Instrument Pilot
After achieving your goal of that coveted Private Pilot's license, you will be ready for what many consider to be the most challenging rating in aviation: the Instrument Rating. You will then be able to fly in instrument meteorological conditions using state of the art avionics, including modern GPS's. Our Elite PCATD (FAA approved for instrument experience), club-approved flight instructors, and well-equipped aircraft are ready to help you achieve your goal.
Commercial Pilot
Ever wanted to fly for a living? Are you longing to fly for the airlines, be a fire bomber, crop duster, flight instructor or skywriter? Well, these and hundreds of other flying careers have one thing in common: they all require a commercial pilot's certificate.
Even if you don't want to use your wings to earn your paycheck, commercial training gives you the skills to fly complex aircraft with the precision and safety margins that airline passengers have come to take for granted. When you train for your commercial certificate at The Flying Neutrons, you will fly a Piper Arrow P28R-201, a retractable gear, complex, single engine aircraft. In addition to the maneuvers you mastered while earning your private pilot certificate and instrument rating, you will learn additional, maximum performance maneuvers such as the chandelle, lazy-8 and eights-on-pylons. This training will build your precision, coordination, planning, orientation, and overall smoothness on the controls. After your training, short field and crosswind landings will be a breeze!
Flight Instructor
Are you a natural leader? Are you the patient, mentoring type of person that always seems to be answering somebody's questions? Do you aspire to a career as an airline pilot? Can you handle the responsibility of creating a new generation of aviators? If so, you may have what it takes to become a flight instructor. The Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Certificate allows you to act as an extension of the FAA. As a CFI, you become responsible for training and certifying pilots who will then go forward and operate within the nation's airspace. One of the many bonuses of being a CFI is that each hour of flight instruction you give may be logged as pilot-in-command (PIC) time.
Your ground lessons will focus on learning the fundamentals of instruction, creating lesson plans and practicing how to teach. You will also review all of the responsibilities and privileges of the CFI and perfect your knowledge of all the material needed to work with primary and advanced students. Your flight training will encompass learning to fly from the right seat, and perfecting your performance of the required maneuvers for the CFI practical test.
Sport Pilot
The Sport Pilot certificate was introduced in 2004. The Sport Pilot certificate will enable you to learn to fly in much less time and for much less cost than other alternatives, while current pilots can transition to a simpler world of recreational flying. Sport pilots fly smaller, lighter, and less-complex airplanes known as light sport aircraft (LSA). A sport pilot is not required to possess an FAA medical certificate but may use a valid U.S. driver's license as proof of medical fitness.
The training for the Sport Pilot certificate is similar to that for the Private Pilot certificate (described below), but with fewer hours, among other differences. You need only 20 hours of flight time of which at least 15 hours must be flight instruction from a certificated flight instructor, and 3 hours of preparation within 60 days of the flight test. You must also have 5 hours of solo flight time, including a 75 nm Solo cross-country flight. Note, though, that these are simply minimums and most people will fly more in order to achieve the required level of proficiency. No instrument or night training is required. This is just a summary of key differences. Any of our instructors would be glad to explain to you all the differences in training for and using a Sport Pilot certificate.
Private Pilot
The Private Pilot certificate is your license to fly. This is the certificate that allows you to fly most anywhere you want, most anytime you want, by yourself or with passengers. At the Flying Neutrons, you will find the expertise and support that will make getting your certificate an enjoyable experience.
Your Private Pilot training will consist of two major components: Ground School and Flight Training. In Ground school you will learn everything you need to know to pass your written exam. Topics include navigation, meteorology, aerodynamics, regulations, and aircraft systems. You can either study the Ground School material on your own pace at home, or take a class.
Your Flight Training will consist of time spent with your instructor, called dual, and time spent practicing by yourself, called solo. During your dual time, your instructor will teach you how to control the airplane and how to perform the various maneuvers required to pass the FAA practical test and become a safe pilot.
Your first solo flight is something that you will remember forever! This normally occurs in your first 10 or 15 hours of training, but is different for each pilot. This is the first time you fly without an instructor on board the aircraft. You will then go on to practice the maneuvers that your instructor taught you during dual, and complete the solo requirements for the Private Pilot certificate.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) establishes minimum requirements for obtaining a Private Pilot Certificate:
- That you be at least 17 years old, although there is nothing to stop you starting training much younger.
- That you are able to read, speak and understand English.
- That you obtain a third-class medical certificate, although you can start training prior to taking the medical.
- That you pass the FAA written test.
- That you pass an oral and flight test.
Instrument Pilot
After achieving your goal of that coveted Private Pilot's license, you will be ready for what many consider to be the most challenging rating in aviation: the Instrument Rating. You will then be able to fly in instrument meteorological conditions using state of the art avionics, including modern GPS's. Our Elite PCATD (FAA approved for instrument experience), club-approved flight instructors, and well-equipped aircraft are ready to help you achieve your goal.
Commercial Pilot
Ever wanted to fly for a living? Are you longing to fly for the airlines, be a fire bomber, crop duster, flight instructor or skywriter? Well, these and hundreds of other flying careers have one thing in common: they all require a commercial pilot's certificate.
Even if you don't want to use your wings to earn your paycheck, commercial training gives you the skills to fly complex aircraft with the precision and safety margins that airline passengers have come to take for granted. When you train for your commercial certificate at The Flying Neutrons, you will fly a Piper Arrow P28R-201, a retractable gear, complex, single engine aircraft. In addition to the maneuvers you mastered while earning your private pilot certificate and instrument rating, you will learn additional, maximum performance maneuvers such as the chandelle, lazy-8 and eights-on-pylons. This training will build your precision, coordination, planning, orientation, and overall smoothness on the controls. After your training, short field and crosswind landings will be a breeze!
Flight Instructor
Are you a natural leader? Are you the patient, mentoring type of person that always seems to be answering somebody's questions? Do you aspire to a career as an airline pilot? Can you handle the responsibility of creating a new generation of aviators? If so, you may have what it takes to become a flight instructor. The Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Certificate allows you to act as an extension of the FAA. As a CFI, you become responsible for training and certifying pilots who will then go forward and operate within the nation's airspace. One of the many bonuses of being a CFI is that each hour of flight instruction you give may be logged as pilot-in-command (PIC) time.
Your ground lessons will focus on learning the fundamentals of instruction, creating lesson plans and practicing how to teach. You will also review all of the responsibilities and privileges of the CFI and perfect your knowledge of all the material needed to work with primary and advanced students. Your flight training will encompass learning to fly from the right seat, and perfecting your performance of the required maneuvers for the CFI practical test.
What is your flight simulator (PCATD) and how does it help me?
We have an Elite PI-135 PCATD in our clubhouse. Club members can use the PCATD while working on their instrument rating, as well as for recurring training and practice. It has the following features:
- FAA approved for instrument experience when operated with a CFII.
- Can be configured to emulate multiple aircraft including a Cessna 172 and 192, Piper Archer and Arrow, Mooney, Socata, Bonanza, and even a King Air B200.
- Weather can be fully configured and equipment failures programmed to simulate most any possible scenario.
- Scenarios can be saved for repeated use.
- It is a safe low-stress way to introduce flight in IFR conditions.
- It provides for a more efficient use of time, because approach sequences and instrument maneuvers can be easily paused, repeated, or entered at any intermediate point as often as needed.
- It allows for a quiet, controlled teaching environemnt where the student can concentrate on just the task being learned.
- It is FREE of charge for club members.
- You can log IFR time as long as you have a flight instructor with you, so it helps to build the time required to get your instrument rating