May 2026 Ramp Report
Tenant Spotlight
John Wise, owner of Confidence Flight Training
at Guthrie-Redmond Regional Airport
John Wise, Confidence Flight Training
After John’s father purchased a Cessna Skylane in north central Ohio, John’s interest was piqued. He began his flying lessons before school at age 14. He soloed on December 11, 1971, four days after his 16th birthday. Then, the teenage years took over for a couple of years, and he couldn’t be bothered with flying until he graduated from high school and joined the Air Force. He spent those years as an air traffic controller and worked on airplanes at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. He then went to work for the FAA.
Fast forward to the ’80s, when John received his private pilot certificate in 1986, his instrument and multi-engine ratings in the late ’80s, his first aerobatic flight lesson in 1988, and his commercial certificate in 1993. He also began flying in and out of Guthrie-Edmond Regional Airport in the mid-80s.
When he became a certified flight instructor on January 1, 2017, things quickly changed. At first, he taught only primary and instrument pilots. He switched focus to tailwheel and spin training in 2020. John eventually dropped everything but aerobatics and tailwheel training a couple of years ago. He uses a 1979 Bellanca Super Decathlon that he affectionately named "Spinderella” for training.
John shared with us, “People who don't understand [aerobatics] think it’s dangerous, but I find it very fun, although it is challenging. Once you understand the aerodynamics of flying this way, it seems pretty straightforward.”
When people ask him about learning to fly, John said, “It teaches confidence that applies to our lives as a whole. Flying airplanes is about planning ahead. Our past decisions affect our future. Flying is very much about thinking about what to do in the future. I tell people that if they receive their pilot certificate and never fly again, that they can honestly say when facing a life challenge that if ‘I can fly an airplane, then certainly I can…fill in the blank’.”
John shared his praise of GOK with us. He said, “I can’t speak highly enough about my treatment at GOK. I almost feel guilty about how well the line guys treat me. It's almost like having my own personal crew. I also like the solitude and the lack of drama here.”
And just when you think John might have settled into a routine, he said he still has ambitions when it comes to flying. His next goals include advancing to the Sportsman level (tier 2) in aerobatic competition and teaching in more high-performance aerobatic aircraft.
Flying isn’t all John does. He and Diane, his wife of 44 years, frequently travel all around the world together and with friends. Hiking and trying new restaurants top his favorites list, as do their three grandsons and their church in Oklahoma City.
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John Wise is the owner of Confidence Flight Training. Confidence Flight Training provides a range of specialized services, including spin awareness flight training, advanced stick and rudder skills training, tailwheel endorsement instruction, upset recovery, and entry-level aerobatic flying instruction. Visit Confidence Flight Training’s website to find out more.
Airplanes & Coffee Success
A huge thank you to the 150-plus folks who joined us at TRL for the April 11 Airplanes & Coffee event. More than 15 aircraft flew in, adding to the vibrant atmosphere.
The ramp was filled with activity as people connected, explored aircraft, and enjoyed fresh coffee, delicious donuts, Mooyah Burgers, fries, and shakes. The $100 hamburger experience made the fly-in even more rewarding and a great fundraiser for Airplanes & Coffee’s educational scholarship fund.
A special shout-out to Vintage Air Tours for having Betty (their 1943 PT-17 Stearman) and Norma (their U-18 Navion) on display and taking people up for a spin.
We’re grateful to everyone who joined in on this special day. We’re already looking forward to hosting more gatherings like this.
Are You Ready for Some World-Class Soccer?
When it comes to the World Cup, there's more to do than “just” soccer matches. Kansas City and Dallas are each gearing up for large-scale entertainment festivals.
Starting June 13, Kansas City’s FIFA Fan Festival is full of music and more. But you need to sign up online first.
Contact our GPH location if you need a spot to land near Kansas City at 816-407-3390.
The Texas-sized FIFA Fan Festival is coming to Fair Park from June 11 to July 19 during the FIFA World Cup 2026. Free and open to the public on all 34 match days, fans can watch live matches, enjoy entertainment, food, and more. For more info, visit online here.
Contact our TRL location for an easy in-and-out for the Dallas soccer events at 972-767-8944.
Reviews Keep Us Soaring Higher
If you’ve been through one of our FBOs lately, we’d truly appreciate a review on Google (links below), Foreflight, or AirNav. These go a long way in helping us maintain stellar service for you.
With Deep Gratitude
This Memorial Day, we pause to remember those who fought for our freedom and are no longer with us.
Runway Watch:
Cool Aircraft Spotted at Apex ✈️
This beauty of a Citation XLS stopped through our Council Bluffs FBO recently, and we just had to share.
“ There is no sport in the world quite equal to that which aviators enjoy while being carried through the air on great white wings. Compared with the motion of a jolting automobile is not flying real poetry?”