TRAINING
AIRCRAFT
You Bring the Plane. Dom Brings the Expertise.

The Van's RV-12iS is a two-seat, side-by-side light sport aircraft built for performance and efficiency. Powered by the fuel-injected Rotax 912iS engine and equipped with the Dynon SkyView glass cockpit, it delivers a modern training environment at a fraction of the operating cost of traditional trainers. For students pursuing their Sport Pilot or Private Pilot certificate in Portland, Aurora, or Salem, the RV-12iS offers an unmatched combination of low hourly costs, modern avionics, and a responsive feel that builds real stick-and-rudder skills fast.

With over 44,000 units built, the Cessna 172 Skyhawk is the most widely flown training aircraft in history — and for good reason. Its high-wing design provides exceptional visibility, its forgiving flight characteristics build student confidence quickly, and its widespread availability ensures parts, maintenance, and resale value remain predictable for student owners. Whether you're pursuing your Private Pilot certificate, Instrument Rating, or Commercial Pilot certificate in the Portland metro area, the Cessna 172 is the benchmark against which all other trainers are measured.

The Piper PA-28 family — spanning the Cherokee, Warrior, Archer, and Arrow — offers a low-wing alternative to the Cessna 172 that many student pilots prefer for its slightly faster cruise speed, simpler fuel management (no fuel selector switching required on most variants), and the natural progression path to the retractable-gear Arrow for commercial training. For students in Portland, Aurora, and Salem who already own a PA-28 or are considering purchasing one, Dom's Part 61 flexibility means you train in your aircraft on your schedule — no rental markups, no fleet scheduling conflicts.

The Cessna 182 Skylane and its retractable-gear variant, the 182RG, represent the natural next step for pilots who have completed their Private Pilot certificate and are building toward their Commercial certificate. The 182 satisfies the FAA's high-performance endorsement requirement (over 200 hp), while the 182RG adds the complex aircraft endorsement (retractable gear, controllable-pitch propeller, and flaps). For students in the Portland, Aurora, and Salem area who own a Skylane, Dom's Part 61 instruction means you earn your endorsements and build commercial time in your own aircraft — no rental fees, no scheduling conflicts.

The Piper PA-44 Seminole is the most widely used light twin in multi-engine training programs worldwide, and for good reason: its counter-rotating propellers eliminate the 'critical engine' factor that makes other light twins more demanding during engine-out training. For pilots in Portland, Aurora, and Salem pursuing their Multi-Engine Rating or Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI) certificate, the Seminole provides a safe, predictable, and forgiving platform to master the skills that set multi-engine pilots apart. Dom's Part 61 instruction means you train in your Seminole — or a student-owned twin — on your schedule, without the rigid curriculum constraints of a Part 141 program.