BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal Samantha Moore sits in her sport plane at the Carson City Airport before an introductory flight on Sunday afternoon.
Samantha Moore learned how to fly when a friend took her to the top of a hill and pushed her off.
She was wearing polyester wings at the time. Riding the air waves down on a hang glider is quite a bit different than in a powered aircraft.
"I fell in love with flight then and I've been flying ever since," the 45-year-old Gardnerville resident said. "It's something so out of this world."
Her love of the sport started on that day 24 years ago, and continued with sport piloting. Working with what she loves, Moore trains students how to fly light sport and ultralight aircraft. Her North Wing Apache ultralight two-seater trike is attached to a power motor, propeller and polyester wings. Moore, a flight instructor for four years, opened Sport Aviation Center at the Carson City Airport this month.
Her classes begin with a 30-minute introductory flight lesson.
"Once in the air I show how the controls work. Students can fly the plane if they're comfortable. Then I land and we debrief. If they decide to continue learning to fly we set up a lesson plan."
The lesson plan includes 15 hours of ground school and about 20 hours of flight instruction. The complete sport pilot package is $2,500, which includes textbooks and materials, Moore said. This course qualifies the student to fly small sport planes, not commercial airlines.
A light aircraft can cost from $7,000 to $50,000, depending on the brand and features.
Moore grew up in Guatemala. She is a retired law-enforcement officer and has also worked in the computer industry. She is a certified instructor with the United States Ultralight Association, Aero Sports Connection, Experimental Aircraft Association and the National Association of Flight Instructors.
This is her first time running her own business.
n Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.
If you Go
What: Sport Aviation Center
Where: Carson City Airport, 2101 Arrowhead Drive
Call: 450-6474
Online: www.SportAviationCenter.com