Randall Freeman

— Your instructor

I'm a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI/CFII) based in Hickory, North Carolina, with access to a well-maintained Cessna 172. Whether you've always dreamed of becoming a pilot, you're working toward your next rating, or you just want to get current again, I'd love to help you reach your goals.

Flying has been the dream for as long as I can remember — I've wanted to be a pilot since I was a kid and have been working toward it ever since. Getting to teach it now, and to help someone take the controls for the very first time, is the best part of the job.

Every student learns differently, so I keep training safe, professional, and genuinely enjoyable — the kind that builds a confident, capable pilot, not just someone who can pass a checkride.

And your time in the airplane is never wasted. Every flight is bracketed by a thorough pre- and post-flight briefing on the ground, so the hours you spend in the air go to actual flying — not sorting out what comes next. Backed by solid ground-school instruction, you'll build both the hands-on skills and the knowledge behind them.

CFI / CFIICessna 172Hickory · KHKY

— What I teach

Flight training services

From your first time at the controls to staying instrument-current — pick where you are and we'll go from there.

Start here

Discovery Flight

New to flying? Take the controls of a Cessna 172 and experience flight firsthand — the easiest, no-pressure way to begin.

Certificate

Private Pilot

Go from zero to your Private Pilot Certificate with structured, safety-first training at a pace that fits how you learn.

Rating

Instrument Rating

Fly confidently in the clouds: approaches, holds, and IFR procedures that make you sharper and safer in any weather.

Certificate

Commercial Pilot

Build the precision and advanced maneuvers to fly for hire and take the next step toward an aviation career.

Add-on

CFI-I Add-On

Already a CFI? Add your instrument instructor rating and start teaching approaches, holds, and IFR the right way.

Required

Flight Review (BFR)

A meaningful flight review built around your flying and goals — real, useful training, not just a box to check.

Currency

Instrument Proficiency Check

Back to IFR currency with a thorough, practical IPC tailored to how and where you actually fly.

Get current

Rusty Pilot

Been a while? Get current and confident again with focused, no-pressure proficiency flights.

— The aircraft

A well-maintained Cessna 172

Randall pre-flighting the Cessna 172 on the ramp

I fly a well-maintained Cessna 172 — the airplane that's trained more pilots than any other. Stable, forgiving, and IFR-capable, it's ideal for everything from your very first lesson to your instrument rating.

Single-engine4-seatIFR capable

— Simple rates

Transparent pricing

Discovery flight · intro lesson

$45

Aircraft · Cessna 172

$175/ hour

Instructor

$50/ hour

Dual instruction · aircraft + instructor

$225/ hour

The discovery flight is a flat-rate intro — the easiest, lowest-cost way to find out if flying is for you. Training after that is billed hourly (aircraft + instructor).

— Out at the field

Around the pattern

The high wing and strut out over the foothills

Sunbeams breaking through clouds over the foothills

Over the cowl into a dramatic evening sky

— Common questions

Good to know

How old do you have to be?

There's no minimum age to take a discovery flight or start lessons — plenty of pilots begin as teenagers. You can fly solo at 16 and earn your private pilot certificate at 17, so getting started early is a real head start.

Do I need my own airplane?

No. You'll train in the Cessna 172, and the rates above already include the aircraft along with instruction.

What is a discovery flight?

A short introductory flight where you'll take the controls yourself — no experience needed. It's the easiest, lowest-cost way to find out whether flying is for you.

Take the Left Seat.