Any Private Pilots in Des Moines/Ames area on CF?

I was a student pilot and member of the local flying club a few years ago when I lived in Atlantic, IA but now live in Ames and am considering brushing up on my training and finishing my private pilot's license. I have done some online research regarding aircraft rental in Ames & Boone as well as the flying clubs in Ankeny and Des Moines. Does anyone have any experience or feedback for me regarding aircraft rentals or flying clubs in the area? Thanks!

I'm a student pilot right know and use haps in ames. Very nice people, and i think they have around 6 C-172, so not a problem finding an aircraft, and the rates are reasonable. Unless you decide to go to grad school and wast four grand a year, but that is a different story.

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Originally Posted by cs6804

I'm a student pilot right know and use haps in ames. Very nice people, and i think they have around 6 C-172, so not a problem finding an aircraft, and the rates are reasonable. Unless you decide to go to grad school and wast four grand a year, but that is a different story.

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Thanks! I have heard some good things about Haps. I actually think they were the FBO in Atlantic many years ago before they moved to Ames.

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Originally Posted by SwirlingFloater

I was a student pilot and member of the local flying club a few years ago when I lived in Atlantic, IA but now live in Ames and am considering brushing up on my training and finishing my private pilot's license. I have done some online research regarding aircraft rental in Ames & Boone as well as the flying clubs in Ankeny and Des Moines. Does anyone have any experience or feedback for me regarding aircraft rentals or flying clubs in the area? Thanks!

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I got my private license in Ames when I was in school. I actually got my license through and worked at Midwest Flying Service when they ran the FBO in Ames, but I believe Haps now runs the FBO. Haps does a great job and I would recommend using them if you are in the Ames area.

On a side note, since I worked at the Ames airport all through college I saw countless numbers of student pilots come and go. The guys who stuck with it spent a fraction of the $$$$ getting their license compared to the guys who would fly just a little bit every now and then, since they obviously needed a lot of retraining. So, if you can, wait till you have the funds to completely knock it out all at once.

I will hopefully be finishing my private license next summer...

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Originally Posted by cs6804

I'm a student pilot right know and use haps in ames. Very nice people, and i think they have around 6 C-172, so not a problem finding an aircraft, and the rates are reasonable. Unless you decide to go to grad school and wast four grand a year, but that is a different story.

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Out of curiosity what are the Rates for lessons and renting a plane? Something I have always been interested in, and will puruse as soon as I'm done with my schooling.

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Originally Posted by ICclone23

Out of curiosity what are the Rates for lessons and renting a plane? Something I have always been interested in, and will puruse as soon as I'm done with my schooling.

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Around $100 an hour for aircraft rental then another $25 an hour for an instructor.

Get a discount if you are a member of the Flying Cyclones.