Our Mission

At Confidence Flight Training, we provide a range of specialized services including spin awareness flight training, advanced stick and rudder skills (ASR) training, tailwheel endorsement instruction, upset recovery, and entry level aerobatic flying instruction.

John Wise is Confidence Flight Training’s Chief Flight Instructor and President, bringing over 55 years of flying experience to the role. In February of 2023, John received the prestigious Wright Brothers Award, the highest honor the FAA can bestow on a civilian aviator. His passion for aviation began at the age of 14 when he took his first flight in a 1946 Aeronca Champ from his father’s grass strip, dubbed the “Flying Moo,” located on Bovine Palace Farms, a large dairy farm in north central Ohio. John soloed on December 11, 1971, and subsequently joined the United States Air Force, where he served as an air traffic controller for three years at Wright Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, OH. Since the mid-1980s, he has flown in the central Oklahoma area and has been a certified Flight Instructor since 2017. With over 3,500 flight hours logged—2,500 of which are dedicated to teaching students across various aircraft—John specializes in aerobatic flying instruction, spin awareness flight training, and tailwheel endorsement instruction. Additionally, he serves as a ferry pilot, making numerous trips around the country. Throughout his flying career, he has piloted nearly every production single-engine aircraft ever made, along with almost all post-war tailwheel aircraft. His first aerobatic flight lesson was in 1988, and it's still his favorite aspect of flying today. Currently, John owns a 1979 Bellanca Decathlon, which he uses to teach advanced stick and rudder training, spin training, and entry-level aerobatics. He has been happily married to his wonderful wife, Diane, for 43 years and is a proud father of two sons and grandfather to three grandsons.

The Bellanca Decathlon is widely regarded as the best aircraft for teaching essential stick and rudder skills, as well as providing entry-level aerobatic flying instruction. It boasts a Lycoming IO 360 180 hp power plant with a fully inverted fuel and oil system. This aircraft has a long-standing reputation for effectively teaching students of all levels, including spin awareness flight training and tailwheel endorsement instruction. We affectionately refer to her as 'Spinderella.'

1. Spin Awareness and CFI Endorsement course

* Includes 1/2 hour of ground instruction and a 1 hour flight in the Super Decathlon, focusing on spin awareness flight training.

$400

2. Introduction to grass landings and advanced stick and rudder skills instruction (ASR)

* Included is 3 hours of flight time in the Super Decathlon, practicing the AOPA Air Safety LTT (Learn to Turn) expanded envelope exercises and grass landings at KCUH.

$1050

3. Tailwheel endorsement instruction

* This course includes 1/2 hour of ground instruction and 5 hours in the Super Decathlon, performed to FAR proficiency.

$1750

4. Entry level aerobatic flying instruction

This course will introduce the student to aerobatic flying, depending on their prior training, to a level where they can perform the IAC primary power sequence in 7 to 10 hours in the Super Decathlon.

$350/hr including instructor

Approximate course cost $2450-3500.

Weight limit of 215 lbs.