About Ian Shere | Flight Instructor

For as long as I can remember, I was mad about planes. I grew up just east of the small farming town of Palmerston North, New Zealand, and, being hilly country [Google map], Dad always had aerial top dressing done. He would often take me down to the strip where the planes were operating out of. I was in love!

My first training flight was on January 16, 1981 in a Piper Tomahawk PA-38, tail number ZK-EOO for 35 minutes. Tail numbers in America begin with "N", tail numbers in New Zealand start with "ZK". The next few weeks - about 6 to be precise - consisted of flying around and around the pattern doing touch-n-goes. Finally, on March 5, 1981, I completed my first solo. I remember it like it was yesterday. Unfortunately, I also remember the REALLY bad landing I did - about 5 bounces. Not pretty, but I'd done it! However, life ended up getting in the way and, after 55 hours, flying got put on the shelf as I got married, got a mortgage and had kids.

Fast forward to 2015 and now living in America. After an intensive training session in May, I passed my Private Pilot's Licence in June 2015, followed by Instrument in 2016, Commercial in 2018 (yes, I was kind of lazy there!), CFI in 2019, and CFII in 2020.

In October 2015 we purchased a Bellanca Super Viking - tail number N28091. What a great airplane she was - fast and economical. We had great fun in her, putting on nearly 200 hours of flight time. Multiple camping trips to various part of the US, business trips to meet clients, and flights to hang out with family and friends. In May 2019 I earned my Flight Instructor's certificate, and started teaching up-and-coming pilots immediately. Sadly, as student time increased, Super Viking time decreased and we, reluctantly, parted with her in October 2020.

Flight training where you are

Obviously, it's cheaper for you to find a local flight instructor, however, there can be reasons that require you to look further afield for flight instruction. One of those reasons is when you purchase an aircraft like the Bellanca Super Viking. Insurance companies now are requiring flight time with a qualified flight instructor (who, generally, has Bellanca Super Viking flight experience) prior to activating the insurance cover.

Such was the case with the new owners of N28091. Their company required that they had 5 hours of flight time and 10 takeoffs and landings in the Bellanca Super Viking to activate the insurance. The new owners lived in Georgetown, TX, so the flight from Phoenix to Georgetown, with some landings at a local airport satisfied the insurance requirement.

I will travel to your location for your flight training. This isn't normally a good option if you're located outside the Phoenix Valley, but for special reasons - insurance time requirements, high performance rating, complex rating, or ferry flights, this is very cost effective.