Located at Bucyrus airport, Ballou Skies Aviation is operated by      certificated flight instructor Peg Ballou.

N8938S is a Cessna 150, a very popular and economical two seat trainer, called “the plane that taught America to fly.” It is more weight and space sensitive than the 172, working well for smaller pilots under 180 pounds, although others have successfully done so.

Cessna 172 N7893G, is a roomier aircraft with great instrumentation. Either plane works well for Private Pilot or         Instrument instruction. This is a great   option for two-pilot family instruction in a Study-Buddy approach. One pilot flies, one observes, cutting the time down for overall instruction and splitting costs.

Our hangar is conveniently located at Port Bucyrus- Crawford County Airport with easy     access to both blacktop and grass runways. The required FAA computerized (written) test can be taken at any nearby test centre.  Instructional hands-on flights include trips to non-towered fields and nearby      towered Mansfield (Class D) and Toledo (Class C) airspace.  The Ballou Skies flight education program is well rounded with a good understanding of the “What- Why– Hows” of aeronautical principles, not just a rote performance of inputs. Aviation is a thinking sport, and we encourage you to consider the cost in time, energy and effort, as well as financially.

Peg is a 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021-22 and 2023 AOPA Distinguished Instructor Award winner, based on reviews and customer satisfaction from previous students. She is also an FAA Safety Team volunteer, presenting safety seminars locally and at AirVenture in Oshkosh since 2010. She has been involved with EAA Young Eagles giving Discovery Flights, and is an Airport Support Network volunteer with AOPA, as well as the National Association of Flight Instructors, and women pilots organizations The Ninety-Nines and Women in Aviation.

Technically Advanced airplane instruction for COMMERCIAL And Flight Instructor ratings are available. No longer must the applicant have ten hours and complete the checklist in a retractable gear, variable pitch (complex) airplane, although that is still one of the options. Our Piper Archer satisfies the technically advanced airplane option due to her advanced avionics and instrumentation.

So, at Ballou Skies Aviation, one can go from first flight to instructor. The first step starts with a Discovery Flight. Call today to book your adventure.