Our Philosophy
We at Blue Skies Flying Services believe that flying is FUN and we try to teach that way, too. When it stops being fun, we will stop flying. The excitement you feel on the first flight should continue through all your flying. We work to keep that up. At the same time, we approach each flight lesson in a professional manner because the Private Pilot certificate can be the first step toward a career in aviation.
Announcements
After being recognized as a 2017 Top Flight School in the Midwest, we are excited to announce the 2018 AOPA Flight Training Experience Survey is now open!
We are asking for your help to provide an evaluation based on your experience at Blue Skies Flying Services and with your flight instructor. Your responses will help create even better training experiences for other pilots. The AOPA Flight Training Experience Survey is based on extensive research into what makes an optimal flight training experience.
Take the Survey Now
Congratulations to our Member's Accomplishments!
Gold Seal Flight Instructor:
Mike Biewenga
The FAA recognized our very own CFI Mike Biewenga as a Gold Seal Flight Instructor!
Learn More
New Private Pilot:
Lucas Chaffin – August 11, 2018
A huge congratulations to Lucas Chaffin, who passed his private pilot checkride in Piper Warrior N32403! A big thanks to his CFI, Alex Priester, as well as DPE Gail Lapook!
Certified Flight Instructor:
Tom Patinella – August 3, 2018
A huge congratulations to Tom Patinella, who passed his CFI rating and will be joining the Blue Skies team! A big thanks to his CFII, Jim Fellers, as well as DPE Alan Zielinkski. Pictured with Alan Zielinski!
New Private Pilot:
Parker Ritter – August 1, 2018
A huge congratulations to Parker Ritter, who passed his private pilot checkride in Cessna N456ER! A big thanks to his CFI, Mike Biewenga. Pictured with his CFI Mike and DPE Dave Monroe!
New Solo:
Thomas Menner – July 10, 2018
A huge congratulations to Thomas Menner, who completed his first solo in Piper Warrior N32403! A big thanks to his CFI, Tom Laughlin!
New Solo:
Riley Conroy – July 6, 2018
A huge congratulations to Riley Conroy, who completed his first solo in Piper Warrior N43020! A big thanks to his CFI, Alex Priester!
New Solo:
Manish Upadhyaya – July 3, 2018
A huge congratulations to Manish Upadhyaya, who completed his first solo in Piper Warrior N43020! A big thanks to his CFII, Joe Zubay!
New Solo:
Bryan Huhn – July 2, 2018
A huge congratulations to Bryan Huhn, who completed his first solo in Cessna N432ER! A big thanks to his CFI, Tom Laughlin!
New Private Pilot:
John McDowall – June 29, 2018
A huge congratulations to John McDowall, who passed his private pilot checkride in Cessna N432ER! A big thanks to his CFI, Kyle Oligney!
New Solo:
Becky Rhyner – June 28, 2018
A huge congratulations to Matt Zimolzak, who completed his first solo in Piper Warrior N43020! A big thanks to his CFI, Sean Fuhrer!
New Commercial Checkride:
Brandon Kuhn – June 28, 2018
A huge congratulations to Brandon Kuhn, who passed his commercial checkride in Piper Arrow N33815! A big thanks to his CFI, Sean Fuhrer pictured with DPE Dave Monroe!
New Private Pilot:
Max Sexton – June 28, 2018
A huge congratulations to Max Sexton, who passed his private pilot checkride in Piper Warrior N32403! A big thanks to his CFI, Sean Fuhrer!
New Solo:
Matt Zimolzak – June 25, 2018
A huge congratulations to Matt Zimolzak, who completed his first solo in Cessna N456ER! A big thanks to his CFII, Mike Biewenga!
New CFI:
Alex Priester – June 23, 2018
A huge congratulations to Alex Priester, who passed his CFI checkride! Here he is alongside DPE Skip Goss!
New Solo:
Marcus Maschietto – June 5, 2018
A huge congratulations to Marcus Maschietto, who completed his first solo in Piper Warrior N4627F! A big thanks to his CFII Joe Zubay!
New Private Pilot:
Tyler Helsom – June 4, 2018
A huge congratulations to Tyler Helsom, who completed his private pilot checkride in Piper Warrior N4627F! A big thanks to his CFI Sean Fuhrer pictured with DPE Dave Monroe!
New Solo:
Gus Johnson – May 16, 2018
A huge congratulations to Gus Johnson, who completed his first solo in Piper Warrior N4627F! A big thanks to his CFI Sean Fuhrer!
New Private Pilot:
Chris Cunningham – May 8, 2018
A huge congratulations to Chris Cunningham, who completed his private pilot checkride in Piper Warrior N4627F! A big thanks to his CFI Jim Fellers, as well as DPE Gail Lapook!
New Solo:
Cullen Chudik – May 4, 2018
A huge congratulations to Cullen Chudik, who completed his first solo! A big thanks to his CFI, Tom Laughlin!
New Private Pilot:
Jarrett Natrop – April 27, 2018
A huge congratulations to Jarrett Natrop, who completed his private pilot checkride in Piper Warrior N32403! A big thanks to his CFII Mike Biewenga, as well as DPE Gail Lapook!
New Solo:
Jerry Thomas – April 10, 2018
A huge congratulations to Jerry Thomas, who completed his SECOND solo in Cessna N456ER! A big thanks to his CFII, Jim Fellers!
New CFI Rating:
Nathan Hartley – March 25, 2018
A huge congratulations to Nathan Hartley, who passed his CFI checkride in N33815! A big thanks to his CFII, Mike Biewenga and DPE Ron Ridenour!
New Commercial Checkride:
Kollin Stagnito – March 21, 2018
A huge congratulations to Kollin Stagnito, who passed his commercial checkride in N33815! A big thanks to his CFI, Kyle Oligney as well as DPE Gail Lapook!
New Private Pilot:
Kelsey Flannery – March 17, 2018
A huge congratulations to Kelsey Flannery, who completed her private pilot checkride in N43020! A big thanks to her CFI, Kyle Oligney as well as DPE Gail Lapook!
New Solo:
Dominic Green – February 22, 2018
A huge congratulations to Dominic Green, who completed his first solo in N32403! A big thanks to his CFII, Mike Biewenga!
Instrument Rating:
Marty Stanton – February 2, 2018
A huge congratulations to Marty Stanton, who passed his instrument rating! Also a big thanks to his CFII, Mike Biewenga and DPE Gail LaPook!
New Private Pilot:
Hamlet Fasliu – February 2, 2018
A huge congratulations to Hamlet Fasliu, who passed his private pilot checkride in N456ER! Also a big thanks to his CFI, Tom Laughlin!
New Commercial Checkride:
Alex Priester – January 13, 2018
A huge congratulations to Alex Priester, who passed his commercial checkride in Piper Arrow N33815! Also a big thanks to his CFI, Kyle Oligney and DPE Gail Lapook!
New Private Pilot:
Jeff Lilly – January 9, 2018
A huge congratulations to Jeff Lilly, who passed his private pilot checkride in N456ER! Also a big thanks to his CFII/ Chief Flight Instructor, Jim Fellers!
New Private Pilot:
James Smieszkal – December 1, 2017
A huge congratulations to James Smieszkal, who completed his private pilot checkride in Piper Warrior N43020! Also a big thanks to his CFII/Chief Flight Instructor Jim Fellers as well as DPE Gail Lapook!
New Solo:
Patrick Helms – November 29, 2017
A huge congratulations to Patrick Helms, who completed his first solo in Piper Warrior N43020! Patrick also holds a rotorcraft rating as well. Also a big thanks to his CFI Kyle Oligney!
New Instrument Rating:
Tom Blackman – November 19, 2017
A huge congratulations to Tom Blackman, who completed his instrument checkride in Piper Warrior N4627F! Also a big thanks to his CFII Mike Biewenga as well as DPE Gail Lapook!
New Solo:
Hamlet Fasliu – November 11, 2017
A huge congratulations to Hamlet Fasliu, who took his first solo in Cessna N456ER! Also a big thanks to his CFI Tom Laughlin!
New Solo:
Pat Creegan – October 25, 2017
A huge congratulations to Pat Creegan, who took his first solo in Piper Warrior N43020! Also a big thanks to his CFII Mike Biewenga!
New Private Pilot:
Aaditya Rawal – September 30, 2017
A huge congratulations to Aaditya Rawal, who passed his Private Pilot checkride in Piper Warrior N43020! Also a big thanks to his CFI Kyle Oligney and DPE Gail Lapook!
New Solo:
Kelsey Flannery – September 28, 2017
Congratulations to Kelsey Flannery, who completed her first solo in Piper Warrior N43020! Also a big thanks to her CFI Kyle Oligney!
New Private Pilot:
Mike Mantel – September 25, 2017
Congratulations to Mike Mantel, who passed his Private Pilot check ride in Cessna N432ER! Also a big thanks to his CFI/CFII/Chief Flight Instructor, Jim Fellers and to DPE Gail Lapook!
New Solo:
Chris Wilson – September 16, 2017
Congratulations to Chris Wilson on his first solo in Piper Warrior N4627F! Also a big thanks to his CFII, Joseph Zubay!
New Private Pilot:
Andrew Wisniewski – September 11, 2017
Congratulations to Andrew Wisniewski, who passed Private Pilot check ride in Piper Warrior N4627F! Also a big thanks to his CFI, Alex Amann as well as DPE, Dave Monroe!
New Solo:
Max Sexton – August 1, 2017
Congratulations to Max Sexton who completed his first solo in Piper Warrior N32403! Also a big thanks to his CFI, Sean Fuhrer!
New Private Pilot:
Greg Kuhlman – July 30, 2017
Congratulations to Greg Kuhlman who passed his Private Pilot check ride in Piper Warrior N4627F! Also a big thanks to his CFI, Chase Matheson and DPE, Gail Lapook!
New Solo:
Lucas Chaffin – July 21, 2017
Congratulations to Lucas Chaffin who completed his first solo in Piper Warrior N32403! Also a big thanks to his CFI, Kyle Oligney!
Flight School
Blue Skies Flying Services’ instructors are some of the greatest instructors in the industry. We pride ourselves on making our students feel like part of the Blue Skies family while flight training and continue with us afterwards. While training at Blue Skies Flying Services you will have access to some of the industry’s leading aircrafts. Blue Skies also has a FAA approved simulator that can be used during Instrument training.
Learn more
Aircraft Rental
Our superbly maintained fleet of aircraft range in complexity from single-engine 2-seat trainers to 6-seat, all-weather, aircrafts. Our aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art avionic—most planes have GPS, autopilot, are 4/6-place intercoms, and are less than 10 years old.
Learn more
Aircraft Maintenance
For over 20 years, Blue Skies Flying Services has been in the aircraft maintenance business, servicing single engine, multi-engine, turbo prop, and even turbine aircraft. Need and Annual Inspection, GPS updates, aircraft detail, or just some air in the tires, stop in and see the guys in the maintenance shop. Let Blue Skies handle your aircraft maintenance needs.
Learn more