Quality Score
Good
Base (15) + components above = 71
About
We currently have three aircraft (2-172s and 1-PA28-140) There is no club share to purchase, only a low one time initiation fee of $300. Monthly dues are $70 per month (covers fixed costs such as hangars and insurance). Current hourly rates for C172 is $79.00 per tach hr (dry) and PA28-140 is $68.00 per tach hr (dry).
Estimated PPL Training Cost
| Line item | Hours | Rate (range) | Subtotal (range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piper PA-28-140 (Cherokee 140) (cheapest in fleet) | 70h | $25 – $110/hr Tach | $1,900 – $7,625 |
| Flight instruction (dual) | 42h | $40 – $160/hr | $1,675 – $6,725 |
| Ground instruction | 20h | $30 – $110/hr | $550 – $2,200 |
| Admission fee | — | one-time | $400 |
| Monthly dues × 12 | 12 mo | $70/mo | $840 |
| Estimated Total Range | $4,800 – $19,000 | ||
Instruction Rates
Frequently Asked Questions
Training for a Private Pilot Certificate at Gopher Flying Club is estimated to cost $4,800 – $19,000. to see the full breakdown with exact aircraft rental and instructor rates.
No, Gopher Flying Club operates under Part 61. Training is self-paced: you and your instructor set the curriculum rather than following a pre-approved syllabus. The FAA minimum for a Private Pilot Certificate under Part 61 is 40 flight hours, though most students need 60 to 70.
Yes, Gopher Flying Club has a Designated Pilot Examiner on staff. You can schedule your checkride directly through the school instead of finding an independent examiner on your own. In many areas DPE wait times have stretched to weeks or months, so this is worth factoring in when choosing a school.
Gopher Flying Club's training fleet includes the Cessna 172N (Skyhawk), Cessna 172I (Skyhawk), and Piper PA-28-140 (Cherokee 140). Having multiple types in the fleet keeps your training on track if one plane is down for maintenance. Ask the school about current availability and any additional charges per aircraft.
No flight simulators are listed for Gopher Flying Club. Some schools have basic Aviation Training Devices that may not be in our database. Ask them directly.
No, Gopher Flying Club does not charge a fuel surcharge. The published rental rates are your actual hourly cost.