Learn To Fly

Ray and Sher Shipway’s Light-Sport and Ultralight Aviation services provides Sport Pilot and Ultralight pilot training, Basic Flight Reviews and Proficiency Checks for your Light-Sport aircraft. We provide Quicksilver sales and services, including owner building assistance in Cloverdale, CA 060 (Cloverdale Airport designator) thirty miles north of Santa Rosa on Hwy 101. Light-Sport planes and Ultralights are very light weight, single and two seat aircraft used for sport and recreation. We can set you up with Floats to attach to your plane, so you can land and or take-off from water. They fly “low and slow” during the day and good weather conditions. The term ultralight can include everything from unpowered hang gliders to powered parachutes to fully instrumented, sleek-looking “cruisers” weighing less than 254 pounds. Flying an ultralight does not require a pilot certificate and there are no minimum age or training requirements. Because they are often easier to operate, training normally takes just 10-20 hours. Aircraft costs are also low, with average new ultralights costing between $8,000-$15,000. Used ultralights can cost as little as $5000!

We offer Ultralight and Light Sport Training using a SLSA Quicksilver trainer along with Basic Flight Reviews (BFRs), Proficiency Checks and have Certified Light Sport Flight Instructor (CFIs) on staff. 

  • Sport Pilot requires an FAA Sport Pilot Certification.  Basic requirements are:
  • Be a minimum of 17 years of age
  • Able to speak, read, write and understand English
  • Hold a valid US State driver's license or hold a current 1st, 2nd or 3rd class Airman Medical Certificate
  • 20 hours of flight time including 15 hours of flight training from and authorized instructor in a                single- engine airplane and at least 5 hours of solo flight training

We excited to be are part of the Captain Drake’s Family Aerial Adventures network which will enhance our student’s ability to work with Sport Pilot CFIs and a Sport Pilot Examiner who are truly Sport Pilot knowledgeable.

And more pictures from Capt Ray and his student!  We made great use of the Clearlake Splashin.