Red Sky Aviation

Went for a Introductory flying lesson (Fun flying activity for newbies)
The instructor Rick was amazing, we had an awesome flying experience with him. He tried his best to calm us down and reduce our anxiety about the small 172, 4 seater aircraft. The aircraft was in a decent shape, and the take off and landing were perfectly executed. He let the copilot do some maneuver of lifting the plane during takeoff and directing the plane in the air. He showed us around the east bay a bit which was fun.
Initially the ride was very smooth and it felt that flying is so easy, but as we went to higher altitudes and with some air bubbles etc, the ride became a little rough to handle in the small plane. Rick handled us well during our fear and we finally reached back having an awesome 1 hr experience with him.
It was a fun ride and surely bang for the buck you pay for it. We were 3 people, and the amount we paid for it was surely worth it.
I would definitely recommend Red Sky for the Introductory flying experience.

Had a great experience at Red Sky this weekend. I have my PPL SEL but haven’t been current since about 2005. Called them up and booked an introductory flight, and Pete was the instructor. He’s great — patient, friendly, super knowledgable.
Family run business, very friendly, very very welcoming. They’ve got a couple of 172s and several taildraggers. The plane we flew in was in good condition and flew great.
They make it easy to get back in the cockpit and really seem to understand how to work a pilot who has been out of flying for a while back in to currency. Looking forward to my next flight with Pete and to getting my BFR so I can take the family flying again.

I wanted to introduce our daughter to flying and on impulse, stopped by Red Sky Aviation, at the airport in Livermore, CA. My impression is that this may be the place for my girl to learn to fly. The owner and instructors have good communication skills and the patience to teach someone a new environment.
ADDITION —— 06-​13-​2013
Okay…(sigh), our daughter, «just isn’t very interested in flying.» Sure, go ahead and break your father’s heart. However, her littler brother is showing interest! Out to Red Sky to give our son an Introduction Flight!
At Red Sky Aviation, we met our Certified Flight Instructor Pete. Pete understood we didn’t just want to go for an airplane ride; we wanted to get our son excited about flying.
Pete put the focus on our son and included him in the preflight process; explaining why we check the aircraft for safety. Our son is little — Pete got cushions and positioned him so he could control the plane and increase his visibility. Our son is shy. However, Pete was able to get past that and had our son control the aircraft during take off and flying. After the flight, our son had a Big Smile across his face. If Pete can get a shy boy to smile; he can get you to be happy you went to Red Sky Aviation.
ADDITION —— 10-​26-​2013
I haven’t flown since 1980 but, wanted to find out if there was still enough of the Pilot in me to get back up there. I have this dream — my son and I go flying together and when he is older; gets his Pilot’s License too.
I went back to Red Sky Aviation and explained this to Pete. I may have a dream but, a Certified Flight Instructor is biased in reality. In in the cockpit, Pete handed me the checklist and observed as I slowly fumbled my through it. He didn’t rush me but, guided me from time to time by diplomatically pointing to where I should be looking on the instrument panel. He let me taxi out to the run-​up area, do the run-​up and proceed to take off. I was surprised how much I still remembered and intuitively knew when to trim, check for traffic/​airspeed/​altitude and more. Yes, I was very rusty after 33 years. However, with Pete nudging me with positive comments was able to do 3 touch and goes.
Now, do I think Pete can walk on water; well no… but, if my wife and I have another baby boy, we are going to name him Pete.

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE Red Sky.
Total at home feeling and a great place to learn to fly. I mean a fantastic place. If you are not looking to make flying a career and can learn to fly under Part 91 instead of 135, this is the school for you. Actually, there are no Part 135 schools that I would trust or learn from at Livermore. Red Sky is the best.
Why?
First of all, the owners are amazing. Midwest mentality, honest, giving, trustworthy, and very very kind. They are in business but they make it their business to care about us customers before themselves. They are just so giving. They will come in late to let you rent a plane after hours, they will… they will do whatever it takes. I have not seen this before and I cant believe it but OMG, they are soooooo bomb.
Second, the flight instructors are all senior and incredible. Let me say that again, the flight instructors are all OLDER GUYS, I mean way older then me, and they know exactly what they are talking about. Look, between four instructors at Red Sky, they have a total cumulative number of flight hours of around 75,000 hours. Seriously??? 4 guys, 75,000 hours. That is a TON OF TIME. These guys have experience and know what they are doing. My instructor, Mark, is THE MAN. He has flown business jets for his entire career and knows aviation. His retirement is passing on the knowledge of flight and his experience to teach other wanna be pilots how to be safe in the skies. He is just absolutely incredible.
I checked out the other flight schools at the airport and every flight instructor I met was like a junior guy with not flight time but a fresh instructor rating. I am a mid-​aged pilot with over 3,500 hours of pilot in command time… what can I seriously learn from anyone with 300 hours and an instructor rating??? Thats why I came here.
Tail dragger or regular tricycle wheel. Its all there and the rates are the best.
Seriously, if you want to fly, Red Sky is the place. The owner is also the chief mechanic and a pilot. Those airplanes are meticulously maintained.
I love you guys, thanks for everything!

I went to them a year earlier for a intro flight because my license was not current and I had a friend visiting the area. So I look for flight school in Livermore airport which is my home base where I got my license years ago with different flight school. So I found Red Sky this time. They are great, just called them and hooked up with Pete.
So I got the Cessna 172M which is a bit older model. Which it just fly as great as new 172 models. The Plane is in good condition minus a little cosmetic flaws, which I have no problem with. We went out for a Bay Tour landed at Half moon Bay Airport with my friend and it was a very fun ride. The plane handle very well. And Pete is very experience, skillful instructor after I met him and talked to him a little bit.
So fast forward 1 year, I decide to have my BFR and I have Pete and Red Sky to do my Review. I have been doing review with him 2 times. I had a great experience with him and the school is great. The plane rental is painless and very easy. Just call them up and ask for a time. Pete is very patient and experience instructor. Get a detail review on ground before take off and he is very flexible on schedule too.
And on the ground, he will talk about the things that is actually needed on the review. Pete won’t BS you with old experience or anything about old days.
I had a bad experience before, stay away from those retired Airline pilot instructors. Man, they will talk your ears off with the old tales from the crypt. Seriously, that’s my money and time you are wasting. That’s why I never went back to my old school.
Bottom line, Pete is a great instructor, the planes are well maintained. The price is very reasonable. If I were you, I start with them. In more friendly and relax environment. Flying supposes to be fun and safe. :-)