Financing

How students pay for training

Name: Superior Flying Services
Address: 4804 Hammond Ave, Superior, WI, 54880, US
Telephone: 715-394-6444
Price range: $$

Most students here pay as they fly — one lesson at a time, at the published hourly rate, with nothing owed up front beyond the flight you just took. If you would rather fund the whole path at once and fly it without gaps, we work with Stratus Financial, a lender that finances flight training specifically. Aviation scholarships from AOPA, EAA chapters and regional flying groups are worth applying for either way, and we will point you at the ones that fit.

Your options

Ways to fund the training

Every path below is one we actually work with — talk to us and we'll help you pick the right one for your goals and timeline.

Pay as you fly

The default here: you pay for each lesson as you take it, at the published hourly rate.

No package to buy up front and nothing to finance
Fly more when you can and less when you can’t — the certificate waits

Talk it through with us

Stratus Financial

A lender that finances flight training specifically, for students who would rather fund the whole path at once and fly it without gaps.

Built for flight training rather than a general personal loan
Terms, rates and approval are set by the lender, not by us

Ask us about financing

Scholarships & grants

Aviation scholarships are awarded every year by AOPA, EAA chapters and regional flying groups — and far fewer people apply than you would expect.

Ask us which ones student pilots in the Northland actually win
Most run on an annual cycle, so the application window matters as much as the essay

Ask us where to start

Superior Flying Services is not a lender and does not set or guarantee financing terms — approval, rates and repayment are between you and the lender. Rates shown elsewhere on this site are current published rates and may change.

The cross-country

You don’t carry all the fuel at once.

A long trip is flown in legs, with a stop at the end of each one. Paying for a rating works the same way.

Spend less overall

The cheapest dollar is
the one you don't spend

However you fund training, the same levers control the total. Financing covers the cost — these habits shrink it.

1 Frequency
2 Preparation
3 Aptitude & goals
4 Medical & materials

See the full cost breakdown →

Financing questions, answered

How much does it cost to earn a Private Pilot License?

We publish hourly rates rather than one package price, because the total depends on how often you fly. A Cessna 172 is $145–$155 per hour wet and instruction is $85 per hour, paid lesson by lesson. The FAA minimum for a Private Pilot certificate is 40 hours and most people need more — flying consistently is what keeps that number down. Call 715-394-6444 and we will work the figure out with you.

Can I finance my flight training?

Yes. Most students here pay as they fly, one lesson at a time, and for those who would rather finance the whole path we work with Stratus Financial, a lender that specializes in flight training. Aviation scholarships through AOPA and EAA are worth applying for as well.

What does financing actually cover?

Financing through a partner like Stratus Financial is generally used for aircraft rental and instruction — the hourly costs that make up most of the bill. Books, a headset, your FAA medical, the written exam fee and the checkride examiner’s fee are usually paid separately, and they are worth budgeting for from the start.

Do I need to finance the whole program up front?

No. Paying as you fly is how most students here do it: you pay for the lesson you just took, at the published hourly rate, and nothing else is owed. Financing the whole program is an option if you want to fly without gaps — not a requirement.