Getting Started
Good quality flight instruction should be your first priority. You can expect to
receive about 30 hours of instruction to get your sport pilot certificate. A comprehensive lesson plan will
be provided by your instructor. Training two to three hours daily will achieve more effective results at less cost
than spreading instruction over a longer period of time.
Transitional Training in a Student-owned Two-place Gyroplane
After a student has proved competency in all flight maneuvers in the lesson plan in a training aircraft,
the instructor and student will fly in the student's two-place gyroplane. This transitional step is very
important. Since each gyroplane has its own characteristics, flying with the instructor in the student’s own
aircraft allows the student to become familiar with his or her own machine under instructor supervision prior
to the initial solo flight.
Solo Sign-off
After completing initial and transitional training, the student must have his or her gyroplane ready for their solo flight.
Transitional Training in a Single-place Gyroplane
Once the student is competent in all flight maneuvers as outlined in the lesson plan, he or she will fly with the
instructor in a tandem seat, light-weight, open frame gyroplane. This allows the student to become familiar with the
lighter cyclic control input and quick response found in an open frame, single-place gyroplane. Prior to the student's
first solo flight in his or her own gyroplane, the instructor will thoroughly inspect and make any necessary adjustments
to ensure the gyroplane does not exhibit any unusual flight characteristics.
After the Solo Sign-off
After completing all required instruction, the student will continue solo practice of all flight maneuvers to become proficient.
After all solo requirements are met, it is time to work toward a pilot certificate. A detailed document from the FAA on gaining
a pilot certificate is available
here (external link).