About Us & Our Program

Whether you’re looking for an exciting new hobby, have always dreamed of flying an airplane, or are looking for a way to avoid the challenges and frustrations associated with modern commercial air travel, Flying Panthers Flight School (FPFS) is simply your best option for flight training in the Sacramento Area.

There are over 6,000 public and over 15,000 private airports in the United States, but most major airline flights operate out of fewer than 50 major metropolitan airports and the vast majority are shuttled among an even smaller number of 30 hub-airports.

With thousands of airports inaccessible by airline flights and modern commercial air travel becoming increasingly challenging, it makes more sense than ever to explore the benefits of becoming a private pilot.

At Flying Panthers, we are committed to providing a safe flight school experience with high quality and well-maintained aircraft. There is simply no comparable flight school anywhere in the Sacramento Area. FPFS offers beginning flight instruction through advance licenses and ratings at the lowest rates possible and with the best instructors in the Sacramento Area.

Flying Panthers Flight School is conveniently located at the McClellan Airfield at McClellan Park in the heart of Sacramento Valley.

Flying Panthers Flight School was originally established in 1932, pre-WW ll, when McClellan was an Army-Air Corps airfield. We were re-established in 2013 as a non-profit, 501c3 with the extended name of Flying Panthers Flight School, Inc. Our modern mission is to provide education and flight training in support of acquiring both primary and advanced pilot certificates. The Organization also promotes activities that support aviation safety, technical educational opportunities, and careers in aviation.

Our organization offers basic and advanced ground school education designed to prepare students for the required FAA examinations under part 61 of the Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR). We offer Private and Commercial pilot’s licenses as well as an Instrument rating. All training activities will be conducted by FAA certificated flight and ground instructors.

Safety in flight training is our primary goal. Our quality flight instruction is offered at the lowest possible price for basic and advanced pilot certificates. Instruction will be conducted as demand dictates throughout the year with Ground instruction typically offered in sessions as student demand and instructor availability permits. Flight instruction is offered continuously throughout the year.

Currently, all flight instruction takes place out of McClellan Airfield (KMCC) with flights conducted throughout the Northern California region. Ground instruction is offered at the Civil Air Patrol classroom at Sacramento Executive Airport or our facility in McClellan Park.

Interested students may also receive hands-on training in the repair and maintenance and building of an aircraft for those wishing to pursue an Airframe and/or Powerplant (A&P) certificate. Any student age fifteen to eighteen who is interested in aviation and who claims a financial hardship will receive a discounted ground school class, complete with books and supplies supporting their efforts to pass their private pilot's written exam.

Our Board consists of

• Phillip Cypret, a Sacramento Community College teacher who serves as our Chief Flight Instructor
• Lisa Simpson, our Secretary and Director of Membership
• Tom Cipollone, our Director of Maintenance, who is also an A/P and electrical engineer
• Jennifer West, our Director of Education
• Lisa Simpson, our Director of Membership
• Gene Campbell, our IT Director and Treasurer, who served as our President since 2023
• Christopher Klevesahl, our current President who is also a flight instructor

All our highly qualified Flight Instructors are FAA qualified CFI’s who come from diverse experience backgrounds and skill sets that include: U2 pilot, United States Air-Force, commercial airline pilot, fire department support pilot, air cargo transport, helicopter instructor, sea plane, and many others.

All of us on the Board and many of our students have depended upon the Flying Panthers Flight School to acquire all or some of their licenses or ratings. Most of us are of the opinion that without this program we would not have had the ability to complete our training during the early days of our flying experience.

Thank you so much for your interest in joining Flying Panthers Flight School, Inc. May you have blue skies and fair winds throughout your career!

Gene Campbell
Previous President