Ralph is a flight instructor at You Fly LA at Van Nuys Airport who teaches across every level we offer, from somebody's first hour in a Cessna 162 to a student polishing maneuvers before a checkride. He is the instructor to ask for if you want one person who can stay with you as the training gets harder rather than handing you along as your goals change.
This page sets out what he teaches, which aircraft you would fly and what each of them costs. For the rest of the team and how instructor matching works, see our flight instructors roster; for the whole training path in order, our guide to learning to fly in Los Angeles is the place to start.
What Ralph Teaches
Under 14 CFR 61.193, a flight instructor may give ground and flight training and issue endorsements toward a student pilot certificate, a pilot certificate, an aircraft rating, a flight review or recency requirement, and a practical or knowledge test. Ralph works across that whole range in the single-engine airplanes we operate: discovery flights, sport and private pilot training, pre-solo work, cross-country training, and the maneuver polishing that happens in the last few weeks before a practical test.
Students describe him as professional and enthusiastic in roughly equal measure, which is a better combination than it sounds. Enthusiasm alone produces instructors who are fun to fly with and vague about standards. Professionalism alone produces instructors who are technically correct and joyless. The training that actually finishes tends to come from someone who takes the standard seriously and still enjoys the flight.
The Ladder, And Where He Fits On It
Most people arrive with one goal and acquire another within fifty hours. A discovery flight becomes a sport pilot certificate; a sport pilot certificate becomes a private; a private becomes an instrument rating because the marine layer canceled one flight too many. Ralph teaches the first three rungs of that ladder and hands over to Francis for instrument and multi-engine work, so the handover happens once rather than at every step.
| Aircraft | Seats And Layout | Package $/hr | Used For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 162 Skycatcher | 2, high wing, Garmin G300 glass | $179 | Sport pilot, private pilot |
| Piper Warrior PA-28-161 | 4, low wing, IFR-equipped | $179 | Private, cross-country, instrument |
| Diamond DA20-C1 | 2, low wing, stick, bubble canopy | $229 | Private, commercial, spin training |
| Piper Arrow PA-28R | 4, retractable gear, constant-speed prop | Part of the $15,400 commercial course | Commercial, complex endorsement |
| Redbird MCX simulator | FAA-approved advanced aviation training device | $120 | Procedures, instrument, bad-weather days |
| Instruction | Any instructor, in the air or on the ground | $110 | Charged on top of the aircraft |
All aircraft rates are wet, meaning fuel is included. Every aircraft rate we publish is a package rate, for training inside a course. Our aircraft rental page lists what a checkout involves once you hold a certificate.
Why One Instructor Through Several Certificates Helps
Changing instructors costs hours. A new instructor has to see your maneuvers before they will sign anything, and that means flying things you already fly well. Sometimes the change is worth it, because a pairing is wrong or a rating needs a specialist. Often it is just churn. Ralph is on the roster precisely so that a student who starts with a discovery flight and finishes with a commercial certificate can do most of it with one person.
If you are weighing a school on this, it is a fair question to ask directly: how many instructors will I have, and why would I change. Our page on questions to ask a flight school lists the rest of them.
Who Should Ask For Ralph
- Students who want continuity. One instructor from a first flight through a private pilot checkride.
- Career-curious beginners. If you suspect this might become more than a hobby, start with someone who teaches the higher rungs too.
- Checkride candidates. Maneuver polishing and the honest assessment of whether you are actually ready.
- Pilots returning to flying. A flight review under 14 CFR 61.56 is an hour of ground and an hour of flight, not a test to pass or fail.
How To Request Ralph
Call (818) 330-1318 and ask for him by name, or say so when you book a free consultation. We are at 7900 Balboa Blvd, Main Terminal Unit 108, Van Nuys, CA 91406, open 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, seven days a week. If you want a regular weekly slot, ask for one when you enroll rather than booking lesson by lesson; students on a fixed slot finish materially sooner than students who rebook each time.
Related Reading
- Our flight instructors — the full roster and how matching works.
- Private pilot license in Los Angeles — the course most students aim at.
- Aircraft rental at Van Nuys — the aircraft, package rates and checkout requirements.
- Flight review — what 14 CFR 61.56 requires every 24 calendar months.
- Questions to ask a flight school — including how many instructors you will have.
Ralph: Frequently Asked Questions
What Does Ralph Teach?
Single-engine training at every level we offer: discovery flights, sport and private pilot certificates, cross-country work, checkride preparation and flight reviews.
Can One Instructor Take Me All The Way Through?
Through the single-engine certificates, yes. Instrument and multi-engine ratings are taught by Francis or Alex, so there is one deliberate handover rather than several.
What Is The Package Rate?
The package rate applies to aircraft flown inside a course you have enrolled in, and it is the rate we publish. It is wet, so fuel is included.
How Much Is An Hour Of Instruction?
$110 per hour with any instructor on our roster, in the air or on the ground, charged on top of the aircraft rate.
What Happens In A Flight Review?
Under 14 CFR 61.56 it is a minimum of one hour of ground instruction and one hour of flight with an authorized instructor, every 24 calendar months. It is not a checkride and there is no pass or fail.
Can I Book A Fixed Weekly Slot?
Yes, and you should. A regular slot is the single strongest predictor of whether a student finishes a certificate in a reasonable number of hours.
Does Ralph Fly The Simulator Too?
Yes. The Redbird MCX is $120 per hour inside a package, and it is the sensible place to spend a day the weather has taken away.
Book A Lesson With Ralph
Start with a 60-minute discovery flight at $229, flown from the left seat and logged as dual instruction, or go straight to a free consultation if you already know which certificate you want. Either way the discovery flight is credited in full toward training when you enroll within 24 hours. Call (818) 330-1318, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, any day.
