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no experience needed — just determination

take the

Are you ready to push your limits and see how far you can go in just 2 months?

The challenge offers you a powerful set of guidelines, tips, and tricks that will allow you to complete your training with extraordinary efficiency and save a significant amount of money if you commit to it. And if you can complete your private pilot certificate in 2 months, we will give you $1000 back or put it toward your next rating. This will require some luck with the weather, but even if you do not get the $1000, what you WILL get is aggressive time (and financial) savings while attaining your PPL. Hit the ground SPRINTING when you sit for your first day of ground class. Your classmates might wonder why you aren’t the one teaching the material...

Small Class Sizes
8 Maximum Per Class

Full Motion Simulation
Progress Efficiently

Latest Aircraft
Single & Multi-Engine

Expert Instructors
Faster Results

Private Pilot and Commercial Through Instructor Ratings

Earn Your Certificates Faster, Smarter, and Affordably!

Vertical Vision Flight Academy offers a curriculum that cannot be found elsewhere. It has been formed over years of careful consideration determining what works and what, well, doesn’t. Our structured programs offer personalized pilot training with small-group and one-on-one sessions tailored to individual learning styles. Our expert instructors guide through real-world scenarios using the latest aircraft and simulators, providing the skills and competitive edge to succeed in the marketplace.

Get Your FREE Flight School Checklist

Know What To Look for In a School With Our Free Guide

Take off with confidence!
As you explore flight school programs, download our free flight school checklist and learn everything you need to get started on the right track.

Your Future In Flight Starts Here.

Steps to begin your journey in flight

Vertical Vision Flight Academy is more than flight training - we are an aviation family! All your aviation needs are covered from classroom-based flight training to one-on-one instruction, from aircraft rental to even a new place to find friends! Welcome to our family and let's go flying!

Step 1
Schedule a Tour or Discovery Flight

Step 2
Enroll in Ground Classes and Ask About Our 2 Month Pilot Program

Step 3
Train Efficiently!

Flight School Programs

Fly your way with our tailored programs

We offer different flight school programs tailored to your goals. Our commercial program prepares you for a career in aviation while our recreational program is ideal for those who simply want to fly for fun. We have complete programs for those who want to get their private pilot, instrument rating, multi-engine, and flight instructor (CFI, CFII, MEI) ratings!

Why Choose Vertical?

Personalized flight training with top instructors

Unlock your potential with personalized flight training tailored to your learning style. Learn from the best instructors, train in the best aircraft, and experience our full-motion flight simulator for the maximum competitive edge.

Formal Ground
Classes

Structured Training
Program

Standardized
Instruction

Full Motion Flight Simulator

Vertical Vision Flight Academy is proud to offer a full-motion flight simulator experience. Not only does it have the same G1000 cockpit from our fleet with the ready ability to switch to a six pack, but also offers a 240° view to provide an authentic immersive experience with the ability to replicate diverse weather conditions and flight experiences around the world to provide an authentic aircraft experience at a fraction of the cost.

Premier Fleet

Our Piper Archer and Tecnam P-Mentor fleet combines the perfect combination of durability, reliability, comfort, and technology. All Garmin-equipped glass panel cockpits. These are comfortable, efficient, and IDEAL training platforms.

Dedicated Team

Vertical Vision Flight Academy’s Certified Flight Instructors are the cream of the crop. They have decades of collective experience spanning around 10,000 hours to ensure that you are being provided only the very best of the very best instruction around.

Get Full Financing

Ready for takeoff? Get full financing now!

Our financing options can cover the entire cost of your training through your CFI ratings. Many future pilots take advantage of these programs and we can guide you through the entire program.

Ready to take the first step towards your future in aviation?

What Our Students Are Saying

  • Troy Johnson

    “Wow! What an incredible experience! I had the greatest of opportunities to have a chance to fly back seat on a flight with Vertical Vision Flight Academy. I'm more on the nervous side and small aircraft aren't the first to mark off my bucket list. But I found comfort with the performance of our pilot, who created a safe flying atmosphere, very little turbulence on his watch! My discovery flight was very informative and set me up for assurance that I too will be just as great of a pilot someday and hopefully soon. Thanks for making me not feel like another inconvenience tour, like some of the other flight schools.”

  • Ashley Myers

    “As a mother of 4 deciding to make a career change I could not have picked a better flight school! They are extremely family-friendly and very accommodating! The instructors are very helpful and ensure you understand the topics and if you are struggling they are willing to have one on one lessons to help where needed. They have several beautiful airplanes with more on the way! If you are ready to make a change this this is the place to do it!”

  • Jovan Gonzalez

    “5 out of 5 stars, I’ve recently started taking my private pilot lesson and I have to say this place is a second home!! From all the instructors making it known that they want us all to succeed and become the safest pilot’s out in the sky! To them, just wanting us to succeed and become great. Really great school for anyone to go to, really recommend. I can’t wait for me and Felipe to get into the sky! So excited to see what the future holds. All thanks to the people at Vertical Vision!!!”

  • Hany Ahmed

    “Vertical Vision is an amazing flight school for people who don’t know a thing about flying or anything about airplanes. Vertical Vision staff are very nice people and help you all the way till you become a professional. If you don’t know something, the instructor and helpers will help you with things you don’t understand and they’re very helpful. I’m so happy I’m going to achieve my dream in becoming a pilot.”

  • Rob Tomas

    “Excellent flight school with instructors that deeply care about teaching students to be great pilots. The planes have awesome, modern equipment and extremely well maintained. The ground classes are personal and in-depth. I really can’t say enough good things about the culture and the instructors. Some of the nicest people that you’ll ever meet and they make it a fun place to be.”

  • Christopher Smith

    I've really enjoyed my experience at Vertical Vision thus far. The staff seems to take pride in their work while providing a friendly and safe environment in which to learn to fly. They also seem to make a serious effort to obtain and use cutting edge technology to assist in the training! Definitely recommend!

  • Sherry Lueders

    My experience with the Vertical Vision flight school was completely exemplary. I was on a discovery flight and our pilot was top notch. He was professional, very knowledgable and very safe! This should be your only choice when considering a journey of such caliber. Every detail was taken in to consideration from the beautiful brand new plane to the amazing school facilities. After looking around in Des Moines for a flight school, this place has it all and at the lowest price. I am excited to go up again! Thanks to everyone at Vertical Vision for making me feel welcome! You are awesome!

two locations in Iowa

Vertical Vision Flight Academy’s Classrooms are located in the heart of Des Moines, Iowa on Fleur Drive, near the Des Moines International Airport. In addition to our Des Moines location we offer flight training operations in Perry, Iowa.

Ready to begin your flight journey?

Send us a message and we'll set up a consultation to discuss your aviation goals and how we can get you there faster, less expensively, and smarter!