Gville Flyers is a non-profit flying club in Gainesville, FL, based at Gainesville Regional Airport (KGNV).

Our mission is to build an aviation community where people become safer pilots, fly more economically, make lasting friendships, and share their passion for flying. We seek to make aviation inclusive and accessible to anyone who shares our passion for the sky—regardless of gender, race, or religion.

We currently have one airplane and nine members, though we are interested in diversifying our fleet and enlarging our community. We are an equity club, meaning that members own a share of the club and have pride of ownership in club aircraft.

What is a flying club?

A flying club is a non-profit social organization in which members share the cost of owning and operating one or more aircraft. The advantages of joining a flying club, as compared to renting or owning a plane alone, include affordability, camaraderie, mentoring, and safety. As a club grows, it also allows access to different kinds of aircraft to suit different missions.

How does it work?

Members of the Gville Flyers share ownership of the club’s assets and have access to an online scheduling service to reserve club aircraft. We maintain a maximum of 10 pilots per aircraft. This ratio reduces costs and keeps the plane flying without creating conflicts over the schedule.

How much does it cost?

Flying clubs are the most affordable way to fly. Membership in our club involves three kinds of costs: an initial purchase of shares in the club, monthly dues, and an hourly rate for flight time. The initial purchase buys an equity stake in the club’s assets; monthly dues cover fixed costs like the hangar, the annual inspection, and insurance; and the hourly rate covers variable costs such as consumables, maintenance, and the engine and prop reserves. For current pricing, see our membership page.

I’m not a pilot yet. Can I join?

We require that members hold at least a private pilot certificate. That’s mainly because we don’t want to subject our aircraft to the same abuse we inflicted on flight school planes when we were learning to fly! To act as pilot in command, members must meet all FAA currency requirements plus have an annual checkout from a club-approved flight instructor.

Do you offer flight instruction?

We are not a flight school (see our friends at University Air Center) and do not allow primary flight instruction in our aircraft. However, our members include several flight instructors—including some who teach at UAC—and we encourage members to seek advanced ratings and certificates in the club plane. The social nature of the club also means that members have built-in flying partners and mentors who can learn from one another in the air and on the ground.

What aircraft do you have?

We started the club with a 1972 Cessna Cardinal 177B, but in 2022 we upgraded to a 2006 Diamond DA40-180. Members have taken the club planes all over Florida and the southeast, including to Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. See more details about our aircraft.

Do you plan to grow?

We do. Two key advantages of a flying club are being part of a community and having access to different kinds of planes for different kinds of flying. We plan to add both members and planes—gradually and deliberately—to maximize these benefits while nourishing the spirit of camaraderie that makes the club fun.

How do I join?

We’re glad you want to! Learn more about membership, review the operating agreement and other club documents, and contact us with any questions you might have. We’d love to invite you to the hangar and take you for a flight. If you like what you see, you can apply to join.

I own an airplane. Can I bring it into the club?

Yes, if it’s the right fit for you and for us. Leasing your plane to the club (and becoming a member) would spread the cost of ownership and reduce problems that stem from not having the plane fly enough. You’d also be joining a community of passionate flyers who value safety, camaraderie, and fun. We’d be especially interested in adding access to a more capable cross-country traveler. Please contact us to talk more.

What if I want to leave the club?

Life happens. If you decide that being in the club is no longer right for you, then you’ll have to sell your shares. The club has the first right of refusal to purchase your shares. More than likely, though, you’ll have to sell your shares to a new member. Interest in the club is high, so that shouldn’t be difficult. Since we started in 2016, we’ve had three members sell shares after life pulled them in other directions.