Elite Flight Academy

Meet the newest addition to the Elite Flight Academy fleet! Our Cessna 150 is now available for pilots looking to build valuable flight time in a dependable, economical aircraft. Offered at a dry rate (fuel not included), it's a great option for experienced pilots who want to log hours while keeping costs under control.

Whether you're working toward your next rating, building time for the airlines, or simply looking for an affordable way to stay current, our Cessna 150 is ready to fly.
Contact us today at 800-669-0250 for availability and rental details!

Elite Flight Academy’s online store is officially open! ✈️
Stocked with aviation-themed apparel, water bottles, mugs, and gear designed for pilots and av-geeks alike, our exclusive EFA merch lets you show your passion for flight on and off the ramp. Grab your favorites before they take off -- supplies are limited!

Shop now at https://eliteflightacademy.myshopify.com

FAMOUS PILOT FRIDAY: The Wright Brothers

On Dec. 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright succeeded in making the first free, controlled flights of a power-driven airplane, called the “Flyer.”

At 10:35 that morning on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the Flyer lifted off the launching rail with Orville at the controls for a 12-second flight. On the second flight, Wilbur traveled 175 feet. On the third, Orville covered a little more than 200 feet. Then with Wilbur back at the controls, the Flyer made its final and most significant flight. After another erratic start, Wilbur steadied the airplane for an impressive 852-foot trip in 59 seconds, definitively demonstrating that the Wright Flyer was capable of sustained, controlled flight.

During the next few years, the Wright brothers further developed their airplanes. By 1905, their aircraft could perform complex maneuvers and remain aloft for up to 39 minutes at a time.

And the rest is history! To read more about it, visit https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-airplane-flies

Why choose Elite Flight Academy for your flight training in 2026? Here are three reasons that’ll set you up for success from day one:

1) New, State-of-the-Art Aircraft
Our aircraft, equipped with the latest avionics and superior comfort features, offer the perfect platform for safe, effective training. Gain real-world flying experience with improved navigation and situational awareness, putting you on the path to excel in your aviation career.

2) Highly Experienced Instructors
From your first flight to the most advanced certificates and ratings, our certified flight instructors guide you every step of the way for a safe and rewarding experience. Our CFIs are held to the highest standards by the FAA, and they share your passion for achieving your personal and professional flying goals.

3) Training on Your Schedule
Book lessons when it’s convenient for you! Need to fly on Saturdays or evenings? No problem. Prefer early morning or late afternoon? We’ve got you covered! Our instructors and aircraft are available based on your schedule and can be customized for your lifestyle.

Getting flight training at a school with new, state-of-the-art aircraft, the latest avionics, highly experienced instructors, and flexible scheduling can make a major difference in your success, safety, and overall training experience.

Call us at 800-669-0250!

FAMOUS PILOT FRIDAY: Morgan Freeman

Actor Morgan Freeman became a mechanic in the US Air Force in his late teens before considering training as a fighter pilot. However, acting won out over flying.

Years later he described flying with his business partner who had a Piper Seneca: “One day he wanted to go up and take pictures of the [Mississippi] river and he said, ‘Here, hold the plane while I take some pictures.’ He told me how to bank it over and hold it in a bank so he could take photographs out the window. And I did and I said, ‘This isn’t super hard. It’s hard to hold altitude but the rest of it is OK.’ So in July 2002 I got a flight instructor and that October I got my license.”

Freeman earned his instrument rating in 2003 and followed that up with his multi-engine rating. In 2004, he bought a Cessna 414, which he still owns. He added to his fleet in 2005 when he bought a Cessna Citation 501, which he flew to Oshkosh.

Watch his video promoting general aviation: https://youtu.be/2gUiy8TUAUU

👨‍✈️ PILOT CAREER PATH: Airline Pilot >>> From your first solo in a single-engine airplane to flying passengers across the globe — this is where dreams take flight. Airline pilots start at regional carriers, then move up to the majors, often with international routes. 🌍
👉 Your journey to a rewarding career flying for the airlines begins with one step... call us to begin your flight training: (800) 669-0250.

Elite Flight Academy
Davidson County Executive Airport
1673 Aviation Way
Lexington, NC

FAMOUS PILOT FRIDAY: Jacqueline Cochran

Jacqueline “Jackie” Cochran became the first woman to fly faster than the speed of sound and, at the time of her death in 1980, she held more speed, altitude, and distance records than any other male or female pilot in aviation history. Included in these are the eight world speed, altitude and distance records she set in 1961 in the Northrop T-38 Talon.

Though she was approaching 30 when she began to fly, she quickly made up for lost time, earning her license in 1932, after only three weeks of lessons.

On May 18, 1953, Cochran took off from Rogers Dry Lake, California, accompanied by Air Force Captain Charles “Chuck” Yeager, who six years earlier had been the first man to break the sound barrier. In an F-86 Sabre plane, borrowed from the Royal Canadian Air Force, Cochran surpassed Mach 1; over the course of her flight, she averaged speeds of 652.337 miles per hour.

She was also the first woman to reach Mach 2, the first woman to take off from an aircraft carrier, the first woman to make a blind instrument landing, and the first woman to be inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame.

Learn more at https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/meet-jacqueline-cochran

Don't let financial constraints hold you back from your dreams! 💲 Our partnership with Stratus Financial empowers aspiring like you to soar, providing tailored financing solutions that fuel your aspirations.

Learn more at https://www.eliteflightacademy.com/stratus-financing/

FAMOUS PILOT FRIDAY: Amelia Earhart

On July 2, 1937, American aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart disappeared while flying over the central Pacific Ocean near Howland Island. She was making an attempt at becoming the first female to complete a circumnavigational flight of the globe, accompanied by navigator Fred Noonan.

In 1932, piloting a Lockheed Vega 5B, she made a nonstop solo transatlantic flight, becoming the first woman to achieve such a feat. She set many other records, wrote best-selling books about her flying experiences, and was instrumental in the formation of The Ninety-Nines, an organization for female pilots.

On October 22, 1922, Earhart flew her Kinner Airster biplane to an altitude of 14,000 feet, setting a world record for female pilots. On May 15, 1923, she became the 16th woman in the United States to be issued a pilot's license ( #6017) by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.

For more information on Earhart’s achievements, visit https://www.ameliaearhart.com/biography/

AIRCRAFT REVEALED: Voyager. Did you guess correctly from yesterday’s post?

Quick facts:
> First flight: June 22, 1984
> Designer: Burt Rutan
> Pilots: Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager
> Engines: 2 × piston engines (front and rear configuration)
> Wingspan: ~110 ft (33.5 m)
> Unique design: Twin-boom aircraft with an extremely high aspect-ratio wing for fuel efficiency
> Historic achievement: First aircraft to fly around the world nonstop and without refueling
> Record-setting flight dates: December 14–23, 1986
> Distance flown: ~26,366 miles (42,432 km)
> Current home: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Interested in becoming a pilot? Call us today at (800) 669-0250! ✈️