Introduction to Aviation
Discovery flights and first lessons.
Turning pilots into aviators.
Modern flight school meets classic fleet. Made for the builders and engineers of the South Bay.
Since 1939
Where the future of
flight was built.
In 1939, aviation pioneer Jack Northrop chose a dirt strip in Hawthorne to build his new aircraft company. Airplanes rolled straight off the assembly line onto this runway, bound for flight test in the Mojave.
Through World War II, this field produced some of the most advanced aircraft of the era, including the P-61 Black Widow, America's first purpose-built night fighter. Northrop's flying wings sketched the future of aviation. In 1948 the field opened to private flying, and generations of South Bay pilots have learned here since.
Today the field bears Jack Northrop's name and is home to SpaceX and Archer Aviation.
Programs
From first flight to mastery.
Professional Pilot Pathway
Private through commercial, made for the builders and engineers of the South Bay.
Endorsements
Tailwheel, high-performance, and complex, taught by instructors who have mastered them.
Proficiency & Recurrency
Flight reviews, rust removal, and recurrent training for certificated pilots.
Introduction to Backcountry
Short-field, soft-field, and the foundations of off-pavement and mountain flying.
The Roadmap
Multi-engine. Helicopters. Aerobatics. Warbirds. Coming as the school grows.
Fleet
N8244AMiss Belle
1952 Cessna 170B · Tailwheel
N2355DClifford
1952 Cessna 170B · Tailwheel
N1296UHolliday
1976 Cessna 172M · 180 HP
Aircraft
$210/hr wet
Instruction
$100/hr
Flight Club
Fly more. Own a share.
We're exploring a member-owned flight club for sport pilots and up, based alongside our flight school at Hawthorne. Build time, fly for fun, and take a first step into aircraft ownership.
Member-owned
Members own equity shares in the club and its aircraft, and run it together.
Room to fly
Kept small, a handful of members per airplane, so the schedule stays open.
The fleet
Starting with a Piper Cherokee 180. Tailwheel, backcountry, aerobatic, and complex aircraft as membership grows.
For pilots
Open to sport, recreational, private, instrument, commercial, and ATP pilots. Training, checkouts, and new ratings through our flight school.
I'm interested
We're taking names now. Pick "Flight club" on the form.
Opening soon
Be first on the line.
We're heads-down getting ready. Leave your name and we'll let you know as soon as we open.
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