Only by reputation, but I believe you're in good hands over there. These
people are "serious" pilots :-)
I think if you go in and openly discuss your goals and objectives with
these people, you won't have a bit of trouble. The main thing you have
to consider in the choice of an airplane are those objectives, and your
pocketbook.
A bit of advice going in; don't over reach on the choice of airplane.
Think carefully about what you want to walk away with after spending
what you have allotted for this little side track adventure :-) Consider
tailwheel transition if it's applicapable to you. Also, the Pitts and
Extra will require some additional time to adjust to as relates to
control sensitivity.
The L39 is a wonderful airplane if you have the money. Of all the
aircraft I've flown in my career, the T38 would be my favorite, and the
L39 handles a bit like the Talon, but a bit easier on final :-))
The Waco is a wonderful experience, but won't do you much good
afterward. I wouldn't recommend the Aerobat unless price was a REAL
problem for you. It will show you the world upside down, but isn't in
the same class with the other choices. The Citabrias are ok. You will
have a tired arm after an hour, and they are much better in the vertical
plane than in roll. The Decathlon is a good choice all around. It's
forgiving, it performs well, and will go both ways for you. The Extra is
a handful and requires fingertip control pressures to fly properly. It's
a wonderful airplane. Same for the Pitts. Never flew the German job, but
I don't like side by side acro anyway :-)
Just walk in and sit down with these guys and tell them what you want to
get out of the training. They will match your experience, your goals,
and of course your wallet to an airplane and a program designed for you.
If you have the money, go for it. When you come out of it, you will not
only know something about aerobatics, but your general straight and
level flying will be greatly improved. This I can guarantee you.
Dudley Henriques
International Fighter Pilots Fellowship
Commercial Pilot/CFI Retired
for email; take out the trash

"Shane O" wrote in message
m...
Yeahh, I thought you might guess that. Do you know Rich Perkins or
any of the others there?


"Dudley Henriques" wrote in message
ink.net...
It sounds like you are headed over to Attitude Aviation; is that
right?
Dudley

"Shane O" wrote in message
m...
Well, that is a really good question. The truth is I have no idea
yet! I am going to spend some time talking to the instructors about
the pros and cons of each of their planes. Let them assist me in
making that decision as well as some flights to make sure I know the
feel and can be comfortable.

Here is a list of their aircraft. I am sure a couple are not acro
but most are. A couple are way out of my league and/or too
expensive for continuous training.
Citabria 7ECA (1976) $69/hr
Citabria 7ECA (2002) $78/hr
Super Decathlon 8KCAB $104/hr
Grob 115C Bavarian $95/hr
Grumman AA-5B Tiger $95/hr
Pitts Special S2C (Yes, C) $199/hr
Extra 200 $184/hr (tach time)
Cessna 152A Aerobat $64/hr
Cessna 172 Skyhawk $82/hr
Waco Classic YPF5C $199/hr
L-39C Jet $1595/hr

Shane O





"Dudley Henriques" wrote in message
nk.net...
Sounds like a plan to me :-)
What will you be flying if you decide to go acro?
Dudley

"Shane O" wrote in message
m...
Thanks a lot for that info and welcome Dudley.

No I haven't chosen them based solely on their military
background. I have spent some time, limited as it may be, but got
a really good feeling from the people I did talk to. As the
weather gets better and spring starts, I will be spending more
time over there and asking many many more questions to make sure
they are the instructors for me.

Shane O
Clear skies, and Adrenaline Flying to all!!


"Dudley Henriques" wrote in
message
ink.net...

"Shane O" wrote in message
m...
Good evening everyone. I have spent the last several hours
reading and catching up on the posts in this group. Yeahh that
means I am a newbie to the group. Also I am a newbie to
Aerobatic flying.

Currently I am a low time 120 hour straight and level private
pilot. I started my IFR rating but ran out of money and am on
the path of reorganizing my finances to continue flying. I have
acquired the bug from other aerobatic flyers and have decided to
take the journey through this airway and see where it leads. My
goal is to start training in the coming spring/summer at a
flying school nearby where I learned my (Y A W N) straight and
level. They specialize in acrobatics and most of the instructors
are ex-military with more flight hours than I think I have been
alive. So I know they are a good choice.

Everyone in this group appears to be pretty friendly and I hope
that I can turn to you from time to time with some of my
questions and hopefully share some of my experiences.

Shane O
Clear skies, and Adrenaline Flying to all!!

You have chosen a good path to follow here, and from the sound of
it, you are positioned fairly well to get a good acro instructor.
Just a bit of advice FWIW. The military is a great training
program, and most of the pilots who come through the military
aerobatic training are pretty good, but there are exceptions, and
as a new student to acro, it will pay you to know this. Don't
just blindly accept a military background as the criteria you
need for picking your acro instructor.
Spend a little time with these pilots before choosing one. Find
someone who not only can fly, but fits in easily with you and
your personality. Acro instruction requires more "blending" of
what's projected to you by the instructor than in any other kind
of flying. You want someone who can explain in terms YOU can
understand, because in acro instruction, you prep verbally,
execute the maneuver completely, THEN review what you did, so
it's critical YOU understand before you execute. This is an "art
form" that some acro instructors don't have regardless of how
well they can fly themselves. Just be aware of this.
I'm sure you'll do fine. Let me know if there's anything I can do
to help in any way. I'm usually around :-))
Dudley Henriques
International Fighter Pilots Fellowship
Commercial Pilot/CFI Retired
for email; take out the trash