NorCal Flight Center, Lincoln

For Christopher Braun, it was a computer flight simulator. For Richard Ryan, it was the old television show Sky King. Each flight instructor at NorCal Flight Center discovered his love of flying differently, but now they share a common goal: teaching aspiring aviators how to soar through the clouds. Their courses, which combine ground training with hands-on flight, equip students with the skills necessary for everything from a private pilot license to the instrument training needed to fly through rough weather. Aboard their Piper N9527W, they also introduce novices to the picturesque parts of the Sacramento area during scenic sightseeing flights.