Quality Score
Fair
Base (15) + components above = 52
About
Sunshine Flyers is a Part 61 flight school located at Auburn Municipal Airport in Auburn, California. We offer training for Private Pilot, Instrument, Commercial, CFI, and CFII certificates, as well as endorsements in Tailwheel, High Performance, Complex, Spin Training/Upset Recovery, Aerobatics, and Mountain Flying. Our experienced instructors provide personalized ground and flight instruction tailored to each student's schedule and goals.
Estimated PPL Training Cost
| Line item | Hours | Rate (range) | Subtotal (range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evektor SportStar (cheapest in fleet) | 70h | $75 – $290/hr | $5,100 – $20,300 |
| Flight instruction (dual) | 42h | $50 – $200/hr | $2,100 – $8,400 |
| Ground instruction | 20h | $50 – $200/hr | $1,000 – $4,000 |
| Estimated Total Range | $8,200 – $32,700 | ||
Instruction Rates
Frequently Asked Questions
Training for a Private Pilot Certificate at Sunshine Flyers is estimated to cost $8,200 – $32,700. to see the full breakdown with exact aircraft rental and instructor rates.
No, Sunshine Flyers operates under Part 61. Training is self-paced: you and your instructor set the curriculum rather than following a pre-approved syllabus. The FAA minimum for a Private Pilot Certificate under Part 61 is 40 flight hours, though most students need 60 to 70.
No, Sunshine Flyers does not have a Designated Pilot Examiner on staff. When you're ready for your checkride, you'll need to book with an independent DPE. Ask the school if they can point you to one nearby.
Sunshine Flyers's training fleet includes the Cessna 172 (Skyhawk), Cessna 152, Piper PA-28-200 (Arrow), Bellanca 7KCAB (Citabria), and Evektor SportStar. Having multiple types in the fleet keeps your training on track if one plane is down for maintenance. Ask the school about current availability and any additional charges per aircraft.
No flight simulators are listed for Sunshine Flyers. Some schools have basic Aviation Training Devices that may not be in our database. Ask them directly.
No, Sunshine Flyers does not charge a fuel surcharge. The published rental rates are your actual hourly cost.