TakeWING Aviation

"I had an amazing experience learning to fly at TakeWing and I couldn’t recommend it more highly. Dorothy is a skilled and experienced instructor who is very patient with students, able to clearly explain difficult concepts, and always looking to make sure that her students have the best experience possible. Learning to fly is not easy, but Dorothy was always very supportive and eager to help. TakeWing has a tight knit community that is very welcoming of newcomers. I always felt at home at Takewing, and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to learn to fly here."

"I highly recommend TakeWing as one of our nation’s premiere flight schools. Here’s why. I began my flight training at a different school in a different state. Like many flight schools, the flight instructors seemed to be much more interested in building their own hours than teaching me proper piloting. The experience was so depressing I gave up on my dream of flying. Three years later, I won a TakeWing “Test Flight” at a school auction. From day one, I was impressed with Dorothy Schick and the other instructors at TakeWing. They were clearly more dedicated to making sure my goals were reached rather than theirs. A few months after that first flight, I soloed. Within a year, I had my license. Since then, I’ve continued with instrument instruction. TakeWing instructors are professional, patient, compassionate, and supportive. You’ll learn what you need to pass the test, to fly safely, and to be a great pilot. Simply, you’d be hard pressed to find a better place to learn to fly than TakeWing."

"TakeWING helped me realize my childhood dream of flight. I chose TakeWING over other schools in the area based on their quality of instruction, condition of aircraft, and school amenities. I would encourage everyone who is looking to learn to fly to (at the bare minimum) talk with a few different instructors and schools – and go with the one you feel most comfortable with. I did an introductory flight and felt that I’d have a good rapport with the chief instructor, Dorothy. I proceeded with my training, and though I found the process of becoming a pilot to be more difficult than I’d expected, Dorothy and Eric (another excellent CFI at TakeWING) helped me through. That much said, there was still a lot of fun involved - trips to new airports, new maneuvers, and of course the pilot lounge banter with other students as well as seasoned pros. On the morning of my checkride and oral exam, I was nervous, but I knew that I’d do well; I was ready, and I’d completed a pretty extensive mock exam a few days prior. Nothing on the flight potion of the test was a surprise – after all, I’d done it all in my training. The FAA Designated Pilot Examiner echoed my sentiments, saying that it was a pleasure for him to test license candidates from TakeWING as they were always well-prepared. It’s a small school with a couple of instructors and a couple of aircraft on the line, so there are some tradeoffs in terms of availability and price, but for my goals, it was the best fit. TakeWING showed me how to be a safe, proficient, and prepared pilot – I am lucky to be able to share that with friends and family as we buzz around the Northwest!"

"TakeWING is a great flight school. I got my Private license with Dorothy about 2 years ago now. I received patience and support throughout my student days and even now I still do. I would recommend TakeWING to anyone who is in need of instruction or a quick brush up on skills. Flight is taken very seriously here, but we do have tons of fun once all safety procedures have been mastered. There is very little room for mistakes in aviation; I don’t think safety can ever be taken too far. I hope to be an instructor at this school in the not too distant future."

"I had a very negative experience with TakeWING. My goal was finish up my Private Pilot's hours (I only had a few left, and some minor maneuvers). I understand that flying is a serious business, but sometimes it was taken a step too far. I did not enjoy being yelled at by Dorothy and I can count a number of times where I was verbally abused. I do believe Dorothy has the ability to be a great instructor, however she needs to realize that each student is different and we all learn in different ways. I also believe it would be beneficial for her to be more open to what is taught in the aviation world. Multiple times have her and I had an argument over a particular way I was taught or a particular habit I developed with a previous instructor. Today, I am currently a PPASEL, but this was not with the help of Dorothy. Besides Dorothy, the rates are just too expensive, especially the member introduction fee ($110.00 for an online orientation and pamphlet). I highly do not recommend this business or the instructor."