ADVANCED TAILWHEEL TRAINING, LLC.

Our company slogan; "Serious Business and just Plane Fun" is meant to convey our commitment to making you a better and safer pilot through exposure to spins, unusual attitudes and basic stick and rudder flying while just having a  blast in the airplane.

Ron Dillard

Although I did not get my PPL until completing ROTC flight training at Western Ky. Univ. in the early ‘60s, I was actually taught to fly by my Dad, a former WWII B-17 pilot and a part time flight instructor when I was growing up.

Shortly after graduation I completed the US Army Helicopter training at Ft. Rucker AL. and the Army Aviation Safety Officer and Accident Investigation School at the Univ. of Southern Ca. before serving a tour in RVN flying UH-1 helicopters for the 1st Cav. While in the Army I earned a Masters Degree from The Univ. of Southern Ca. in Aerospace Operations and Management.

I instructed for a while after leaving the Army in the early 70s and took whatever flying job could be found. I did some night freight, air ambulance flights, flew the mail for a short while in a Beech D-18-S, flew and demonstrated crop dusters for 3 1/2 years for an Ag-Cat distributor along with 5 years of contract work flying a dozen different airplanes and helicopters based in Knoxville, Tn. During this period, I completed training for an ATP rating in Fixed and Rotary wing aircraft and a CFII & ME.

I signed on with Sea Ray Boats when they moved their headquarters to Knoxville in the mid 80s flying an Agusta 109 helicopter and a Dasault Falcon 50. That job lasted until Brunswick bought the company.

In 1989 I joined Anheuser-Busch and stayed with them flying their Falcon 900s, 50s, and a Bell 412 until retirement in October 2008.

Along with partners, I have owned a Bellanca Citabria since 2004.

Photo by Jim Dawson

On the steps of N83FJ, a Dassault Falcon 50 I flew for 19 1/2 years

During my career I have logged over 17,000 hours in more than 130 different models of aircraft.

I currently hold An Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with ratings in Airplane Multiengine Land and Rotorcraft-Helicopter with Type Ratings in;

 AS-355, BH-212, DA-10, DA-20, DA-50, and LR45. And Commercial Privileges in Airplane Single Engine Land and Sea. I also hold a Flight Instructor Certificate with ratings in Airplane Single and Multiengine; Instrument Airplane.

I am a designated EAA Flight Advisor.

I have been married to wife number 1 for 45 years and have 2 grown children and 3 grandchildren.

I believe that my broad and varied background gives me a unique and seasoned perspective on teaching basic stick and rudder flying skills.