A new company has taken flight at the Sebastian Municipal Airport.
The Gyrocopter Flight Training Academy, which recently opened its hangar doors, is owned and operated by Tom and Sonja Latshaw. Sonja retired from her career as a registered nurse to manage the business while Tom handles flights and training.
The couple met in Illesheim, Germany, while Tom was stationed there during his time in the U.S. Army, and they eventually moved to Florida in 2001.
Latshaw began his Army service as a mechanic and ultimately became an aviation officer flying Apache helicopters. After leaving the military, he obtained a contract in Afghanistan teaching the Afghanis how to fly Black Hawk helicopters.
He continued his career as a pilot and instructor, and currently has about 30 years in aviation under his belt, including 20 years’ experience as an instructor in fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters and two years as a gyrocopter instructor.
Latshaw’s civilian career has involved everything from writing training manuals for the military to teaching oil riggers how to fly at the FlightSafety International West Palm Beach Learning Center.
His interest in gyrocopters was piqued during a trip to the Sun’ n Fun Aerospace Expo two years ago. After earning his Certified Flight Instructor designation, he purchased an Argon 915 gyrocopter and realized there was a niche he could fill while doing what he loves – flying and training.
Latshaw is both an instructor and distributor for the aircraft, so that once individuals have completed the approximate 40-hour flight-training process, they can purchase a gyrocopter through the academy.
While gyrocopters are not as widely known as planes and helicopters, outside of aeronautic circles, they have been around since the 1920s. They have evolved over the years to what is known today as the modern sport gyrocopter.
“The gyro is like a little roller coaster on air wings,” says Latshaw.
He explains that the gyrocopter has a propulsion motor that propels it forward, likening it to a pinwheel, as opposed to a helicopter, which relies on an engine to power its spinning rotor blades.
Gyrocopters do require more space for takeoff and landing, but they’re significantly less expensive than helicopters to operate.
“The operating cost of the helicopter we have runs at about $680 per hour. Our gyrocopter is about $80 per hour. That’s a big cost difference,” says Latshaw.
Want to take it for a spin? Training at the Gyrocopter Flight Training Academy runs $220 per hour. Latshaw also offers several helicopter tour packages starting $70 per seat for a 10-minute ride, with trips extending along the coastline as far north as Cocoa Beach.
“Our main focus is instruction. We train here to make sure that you are prepared for anything that might arise when you’re up there flying,” says Latshaw.
“Flying is more difficult than driving because you have to use both of your hands and both of your feet. All of your extremities are moving. Once you get it down, it becomes second nature.”
Latshaw says the majority of his students come to him to fulfill a lifelong ambition.
“These people looked up at the sky when they were children and said, ‘I’m going to be a pilot someday.’”
One such student was finally able to fulfill his dream at the age of 92 recalls Latshaw. “He didn’t care about being certified to fly. He just wanted the satisfaction of accomplishing something that he has wanted to do all of his life. A big part of this business is fulfilling people’s dreams.”
Photos by Kaila Jones
