At Sport Aviation Unlimited we offer both Weight Shift Control and 3 axis instruction and can teach in your aircraft or ours. We have 2 trikes in which we provide instruction for both Sport Pilot and Sport Pilot Flight Instructor candidates and a fully aerobatic Super Decathlon in which I provide advanced 3 axis training. If you are just wanting to increase your confidence and want some time upside down doing unusual attitudes and spins, or are a CFI candidate needing to fulfill the spin training requirement or would like to get a tailwheel endorsement, the Super Decathlon is a great plane for the mission.
There are many valuable pilot training resources on the web, and one of my favorite sites that I have referred to many times for general aerodynamic knowledge on a practical pilot user level is "See How it Flies". It is oriented toward 3 axis, not trikes, but the aerodynamic concepts apply to all of aviation and there is a wealth of knowledge here.
One of the first steps in getting a license is passing the written exam. There is a great site called exams4pilots.org that provides many kinds of practice tests. Sporty's also offers a practice exam which is helpful in seeing what you know. My favorite study guides are by ASA, some people prefer Gleim. Whichever you prefer is fine. Some people like computer software, some think a book is the easiest way to study for the written exam and the PTS is an absolute necessity in preparing for the flying portion of the Exam. If you would like to contact me for study materials I generally have a supply of the PTS and written exam study guides available for both Weight Shift and ASEL aircraft and sell them as a package for $20 including shipping. Personally, I like the written study guide over the software because it's easy to take along when you have a few minutes to kill riding in the car, sitting in a waiting room, or anywhere you are and the computer isn't. ASA (and probably Gleim, but I don't know for sure) offers updates to the question bank on their web site. It's an excellent product and well worth the money. When I took my ATP written, I didn't have a study guide and had to look all the answers up myself. Fortunately, I was a captive audience based on an aircraft carrier at the time, so I had plenty of extra time on my hands. However, it certainly taught me the benefit of having a study guide with answers and explanations.
There are many sources of information for pilots desiring training including many for free on the internet. One of the most complete for the Sport Pilot applicant is a site by Bill Czygan. Bill has done a tremendous job of compiling information to help the transitioning Ultralight Pilot become a Sport Pilot. Be forewarned that it is so complete it may be overwhelming with the amount of information presented and the information you really need may be buried in the amount presented. The good news is that for anyone who doesn't want to spend anything on books or study materials, Bill has compiled a very complete list of free information. Some people will want to know much more than the minimums, and for them, Bill has compiled a really great site. How you get the information is up to you. Some people will want complete self study, others will want a formal ground school. The bottom line is that how you learn the information required to pass the knowledge test, the oral, and the practical test is up to you.
For flight planning assistance, both the EAA and AOPA offer free web based flight planning to their members. There are many sources of weather out there, so I don't want to overwhelm anyone by offering too many options, but one of my favorites is the AOPA weather site above which now requires a log in as an AOPA member. I think the best free site is the NOAA site that is oriented toward aviation weather. There are a couple of FAA sanctioned services that are so difficult to use that I can never remember how. They both are treated like a national treasure requiring passwords and I find other services much easier to use. Of course, to have proof that you checked the weather, a call to FSS provides that proof. (1-800-wxbrief) *Note to self, if you use your cell phone to call FSS while you are on a cross country, you will get your home area code FSS even though you might be 2 time zones away. If you want a local briefer, you need to use a local phone.
For those who want to increase their understanding of best glide speeds, this site designed by a glider examiner is great. It very graphically demonstrates the difference between min sink and max range and how wind affects glide. It's a very well done site.
Matt Bair (EAA UFI & PPSEL) and Jim Bair (EAA UFI, ATP, CFI, and DPE SP & SFIE)
