2/24/2020 -  

John Dee Stombaugh

is one of our newest members but he has already finished his Instrument Rating.  He’s a fulltime paramedic with ambitions of a possible professional pilot career.  He decided the club is an ideal place for him to pursue ratings, fly with family, and also join a community who could help nudge his passion forward.  JD is about to start working on his complex endorsement and subsequently his commercial license. 

 While we are not a “Flight School” we are an aircraft ownership group called a Flying Club. Our airplanes can be used for flight training just like if you owned your own. 

1/20/2020 - Steve Marr came to us with a temporary airman certificate (private) that still had wet ink on it.  Now he’s a solid Instrument Rated pilot with significant cross country experience. 

In short, Steve Marr is a rock star! Steve is DFC tech support.  When he’s not updating databases or fixing our website, he’s out flying.  He uses the planes to visit family in the DC area and to go to his Tennessee Mountain Home nestled in the hills near Dollywood.

3/24/2019

from Shelbyville Times Gazette

https://www.t-g.com/story/2596094.html?fbclid=IwAR3u8cFq5l4260j6xHg9IF1LVEzaevRBOSlQoq0cAPOhHVsKXdsK3KU0zu0

Sunday, March 24, 2019 

Wayne Dillingham, retired from a long career in the military and then in education, made his first solo flight as a pilot fifty years ago, at age 16, in 1969.

An old aviation tradition is to cut off a new pilot's shirt tail after their first solo flight. Dillingham still has his shirt tail from his flight on March 15, 1969.Submitted photo

He celebrated the official anniversary -- March 15 -- with a flight, courtesy of his friend, corporate pilot David Robinson of Murfreesboro.

Although Dillingham is still licensed, he's not current on any aircraft and hadn't been at the controls of one since 1982. So Robinson provided the aircraft and filled the role of instructor pilot while Dillingham took the controls.

After Dillingham's first solo flight as a teenager, he continued flying at Bomar Field, earning his private pilot's license at age 17 and his commercial license at age 18. He later served in the military, flying for the Marine Corps as a bombardier/navigator in the A-6 Intruder, and eventually retiring from the U.S. Air Force with the rank of colonel.

After the flight, Dillingham swapped stories with flight instructor Joe Roberts of the Shelbyville Flight Academy.

2018 - Dustin Laugherty was the first new member after the 2018 launch of Deft Flying Club.  He has been an integral leader within the club.  If you know anything about our club it is probably because you’ve met him.  Dustin came to us a rusty pilot with only a private certificate.  He immediately started using our aircraft to further his aviation experience.  Dustin has since gotten his instrument rating, complex endorsement, and first actual IFR in DFC planes. 

Fun fact he and his wife named their new puppy Piper after… our airplanes. Additionally, Dustin is our club leader for flight time in DFC aircraft!

Dustin has been an amazing member of our leadership team. We are super proud that he is now a co-owner of a Cessna Turbo 210.  One of our core values is that the club is easy to join and easy to leave.  Although we never want anyone to leave it is a great honor for us when we equip someone into aircraft ownership.