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Tailwinds Academy
Philadelphia flight school that says it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and lists wet rates for four aircraft.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Part 61 or Part 141 is not stated on the pages we read.
What sets it apart
Bases its $23,000 to $28,000 private pilot estimate on about 80 flight hours and 90 instruction hours, more than the 40 to 65 hours most other estimates here assume, and lists the extras separately.
What the page prints
Cessna 172N at $225 to $235 an hour wet, Cessna 150L at $165, instructor $90 an hour.
Taken from the school's own page. The school says the hourly aircraft rate includes fuel. The page shows no date.
| Item | Per hour | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Cessna 172N N733PN | $235 | |
| Cessna 172N N20105 | $235 | |
| Cessna 172N N862TW | $225 | |
| Cessna 150L N861TW | $165 | |
| Foundation 1000 simulator | $86 | |
| Instruction: Instructor | $90 |
One dual hour
$315 per hour. Cessna 172N N862TW at $225 plus instruction at $90. This adds the two published rates. It is not a quote, and it is not like for like with schools that include different things.
The school's own private pilot estimate
$23,000. Hours it assumes: about 80 flight hours and 90 instruction hours. The page gives a range of $23,000 to $28,000.
The FAA minimum is 40 flight hours (14 CFR 61.109). An estimate built on fewer hours than a student needs will be too low.
Fees and terms the page names
- Knowledge test $175
- Practical test about $700
- Medical exam $150
- Renter's insurance about $300
- Books and supplies about $500
Students who want a nonprofit school and a budget that lists the extras.
You are comparing the lowest hourly rate; its Cessna 172N rates are among the higher ones published here.
Watch out for
- The page shows no date.
- Its $225 to $235 Cessna 172N rates are higher than several others in this set.
Pages we read
We read these pages on October 4, 2026. Rates change. If this is out of date, tell us.