Recent Praise for Adventure Flying Services

I’ve always wanted to experience the beauty and serenity of flying in the backcountry of Idaho. Up until my flight with Fred, I had zero tail wheel experience and no experience with back country flying. Fred is a fantastic instructor…patient, skilled and enthusiastic. It really motivated me to want to improve my skills. I can’t think of a finer instructor to learn from than Fred. He also has a deep appreciation for nature and is a great steward of these backcountry strips. My day with Fred was the most fun I’ve had in over 25 years of flying. Thanks!! ~ Wade from California, Backcountry Discovery, September 2023

"Thanks again Fred for a fabulous 4 days! I have always wanted to visit the backcountry of Idaho and was fortunate enough to find a great pilot and real gentleman who introduced me to 24 phenomenal airports, each one the best in its own way. Truly an experience I will always remember and cherish. Be well and all the best." ~ Guy from New Jersey, September 2023

"Hey Fred I made it home last night around 5:00. I was thinking while I was putting the airplane in the hangar that even tho I have had the airplane for 11 years I don’t think I have ever felt so comfortable in it. I also know that after each day that passes that feeling will begin to fade! I just can’t stop thinking about the last few days. What a game changer that it has been. Thank you for all the knowledge that you shared with such enthusiasm but more importantly thank you for keeping us safe!!" ~ Dan from Arizona, Cessna 180J, September 2022

"I have always wanted to experience flying the backcountry of Idaho. I suppose there are many ways to do it. I contemplated making the trip with my own aircraft and sticking to the more basic GA friendly strips. But in the end making the decision to go with Adventure Flying Service was an easy one in my mind. The biggest factor for me was safety. Having little mountain flying experience, I was not comfortable learning the hard way. Canyon flying is not something to be taken lightly but with a highly experienced instructor it can be both reassuring and fun! The other benefit was being able to experience much more advanced strips than I would have wanted to try on my own. Sure Johnson Creek is nice but the short strips with challenging approaches and terrain were my favourites. Fred knows just the right balance of being there for the student but letting the student handle the situation and only intervene when needed and even then with just small input changes to correct for the situation. Fred Williams is a great teacher and it was pleasure to spend 3 days with him in the backcountry with his Kitfox 7. I highly recommend!" ~ Arron from Manitoba, CANADA, July 2022

"I have over thirty-five years of flying both fixed and rotary wing aircraft in military, government, and civilian capacities. Fred is one of the best with whom I have ever flown. Experienced, calm, skillful, patient. His genuine love for and stewardship of the backcountry sets him apart. Highly recommend." ~ John from North Carolina, June 2022

"Thanks Fred! A fantastic training and mountain flying experience! Fred tailored my experience and training to what I had hoped to achieve during our time together. He provided outstanding guidance in dialing in the performance of my Cessna 182! I will not hesitate to return next year and will recommend Fred's services to any and all who ask! Thanks again." ~ Ron from Oregon

"Definitely a terrific experience flying with you! Thanks for your patience and excellent instruction trying to hone new skills and fix the bad habits I’ve developed over the years. And thanks for sharing your awesome Kitfox, and the backcountry treasure of Idaho." ~ Gary from Utah

"I had an awesome experience flying with Fred! He is a great instructor and so easy to learn from. He is passionate about what he does and easy to get along with. If you are looking for one of the best instructors out there, Fred is your guy. I look forward to future training session with Fred. Thanks again for the wonderful experience." ~ Chase from California

"Thank you for all your help and patience getting me to my private pilot's license. I really enjoyed the training and it was well worth the many hours of driving to be able to fly with you in Stead. I am looking forward to coming to Idaho in August and I hope we can do some airplane camping in between!" ~ Melissa from California

"I’ve had over 200 hours of dual training in my flying career and my hours with you were the best by FAR. I learned a ton, became a way better pilot, was exposed to what has to be some of the most incredible terrain and airstrips on the planet. You helped me understand doing something inherently dangerous in a safe and calculated way, all while having fun. Thanks so much and hope we get to fly again soon." ~ Will from Idaho

"After retiring as an airline pilot I decided to put some time into building a Kitfox. As it has been quite a few years since flying light aircraft I decided to get with Fred for a tailwheel refresher and also find out if I would be comfortable flying my Kitfox when completed. Fred had me feeling comfortable very quickly and his Kitfox is one of the most fun airplanes I have ever flown. Later we spent a day in the Idaho back country and it is an experience every pilot should have. It was a special time for me as it brought back memories of flying out of McCall Idaho for the Forest Service. Fred is a great instructor and very personable and the Kitfox is amazing. I can’t recommend it enough." ~ Mike from Utah

"An incredible experience that I'll never forget. I'm full time pilot by trade and can honestly say it was the best flying experience I've had since solo. The Idaho Backcountry is stunning and you will learn skills that can carry over to flying anywhere. I left Cascade with a love of Idaho and wealth of mountain flying experience that is unforgettable." ~ Jason from Louisiana

"I have been a pilot for 45 years, I have a helicopter endorsement, taildragger endorsement and glider. The training that I received from Fred went way beyond my experiences. I would not attempt to fly into the backcountry airports without an expert knowledgeable Instructor like Fred. I highly recommend to any pilot that wants to experience critical landing procedures and take-offs in a beautiful overwhelming setting to fly with Fred. A must do for all pilots!" ~ Steve from California

"I am a low time Pilot flying in Kenya for a hobby. My intentions were to get tailwheel endorsed to be prepared in flying the bush back here in Kenya. Seeing my just about 150h I was also prepared in having a rather hard time. That was before I knew Fred. Turns out, Fred is a incredible talented Instructor who really loves what he does. Which translated my experience of flying with him in the best flying experience I ever had. It turned out to be so much more than just the Tailwheel endorsement. He teaches all the necessary skills, techniques, knowledge around tailwheel flying and at the same time giving you the best time of your life. And all in in one of the best small Airplanes you can get today. The perfect combination of working towards a goal and hiding work in fun. And a very very good friend too. Welcome to Kenya, Fred!" ~ Heiko from Nairobi, Kenya

"July 2019

I was paired with Fred during a recent Women Wise Awesome Adventures seminar in Cascade, Idaho. One of my goals for attending was to become more confident flying and camping the Idaho backcountry in my 7GCBC High Country Explorer. The seminar coordinator said Fred would be the perfect instructor for the mission and she was spot on! Prior to our flight, we discussed performance profiles, and air speeds of my plane, and then verified and fine tuned best performance practices before heading out to the strips. This was the perfect beginning to a great day of exploring this state's stunning backcountry. Fred was constantly teaching approaches and strategies prior to landing and allowed time to get out and explore the scenery and campsites at many of the strips. Landing Lower Loon and then walking around to check out the landscape (including how it can alter the winds near the approach end) was a highlight. My takeaway is a huge boost in confidence and desire to return to the Idaho backcountry on my own. I'm certain what I learned from Fred will translate to my flying in Wyoming as well. If you are looking for a CFI who is thorough, knowledgeable, precise, and passionate about flying and camping, hire Fred. An added bonus: Fred and Dianna are the nicest people." ~ Lori from Wyoming

"A truly wonderful experience awaits you in the Idaho Backcountry flying with Fred Williams.

I have been a pilot for 50 years and I can say that I had the absolute BEST flying experience in my life flying the Idaho backcountry with Fred.

He is an incredibly wonderful host and full of ideas to make your experience truly memorable.The airstrips all very widely with some that have excellent services and others that are totally remote. He will custom design your visit to fulfill your needs but be ready for the adventure of a lifetime! Want to have a great breakfast at a rustic ranch setting? He can do that! Do you want to land uphill on a very steep grade. He can show you how! If you can swing it the 3 day option is a way to see a variety of places and still not be over taxing. His turbo kitfox is perfectly maintained and handles the terrain extremes with ease.

I heartily endorse his program and encourage anyone to tour the wilderness area and see what truly “backcountry flying”is all about!

You will be glad you did!" ~ Russ CFI from Nevada

"I came here with the hope that I would learn the skills necessary to test fly my Kitfox in a safe manner. As many of you know, I fondly was calling "Adventure Flying LLC" the "Kitfox Test Pilot School." It turned out to be FAR MORE.... it has been an amazing experience of a lifetime.

Fred Williams is the best Flight Instructor I have ever been blessed to learn from. He spent every hour from 6:30am to 1:00 to 2:00pm, for 5 consecutive days altering his format, changing his methods of teaching approach, to insure that I got the very best training possible, tailor made, for me.

I feel very confident, and knowledgeable, to not just perform my 40 hour Phase 1 test flights, but also enriched in the experience of learning these skills not at a big city airport, but in God's playground for Lower 48 aviators.

I will test fly my Kitfox, and enrich and strengthen the tailwheel aircraft skills Fred has taught me. Next year, I will return, and spend additional days in the backcountry flying with Fred in and out of these 'impossible places.'" ~ Grover from California (Facebook post)

"When I first started looking into flight training I didn't think I'd ever find the right instructor. I wanted to learn in a light sport taildragger, in the mountains, from someone incredibly experienced, and my flight training had to be completed within a month. Learning from a typical "building time to get to the airlines" instructor was not an option for me. I wanted to learn from someone with skills and experience in bush flying and off-airport operations and Fred fit that role perfectly. Thanks to Fred I achieved my dream of learning to fly. We spent each day of my accelerated, four-week training course flying over mountains into high desert airports like Sierraville and Chester (think Lake Almanor and Lassen Peak). On my third day of my training we flew out to Dead Cow, home of the famous High Sierra Fly In, where I did my first approach and landing attempts on a huge, flat expanse of dry lakebed. Even flight maneuvers were fun, turning doughnuts over the crop circles in the Sierra and Palomino valleys. Learning to fly in a month was one of the most challenging, fun and rewarding experiences I've ever had and I couldn't have done it without Fred's instruction. In addition to his training style being friendly and informative, he also provided the motivational push that I needed to learn all of the techniques in a short period of time. My only disappointment was having to come back to the Bay Area after the four weeks. I can't wait to fly with Fred again." ~ Damien, Australian Citizen living in California

"I want to thank you again for 4 wonderful days in the Idaho back country. No only are you a very experienced and dedicated teacher, but one of the nicest persons I ever flew with. I loved the wilderness flying in a little perfectly maintained Kitfox plane with tons of power even for short strips. The great instructions on how to master the very sensitive rudders and keeping the ball centered will stick with me through my flying life. Deadwood Dam air strip is still rumbling through my mind and will keep doing so for quite some time. Thx again for a great job and some gorgeous days." ~ Jan from Florida

"I had the opportunity to fly with Fred in his Kitfox during Woman Wise AWEsome Adventures in Cascade. I hoped to gain back country experience, which Fred did a great job of introducing to me. After a thorough preflight, we spent time getting myself acquainted with the feel of the plane. The airstrips we flew to each posed different challenges that Fred patiently guided me through. For only having two flights with him, I think the amount of information and experience was phenomenal and very enjoyable! It made great memories that have increased my confidence and my desire to fly even more. Happy flying!" ~ Hannah from Idaho

"Had a great time flying with Fred in the back country. We flew for two days and landed at several strips. He is an excellent instructor and taught me the necessary knowledge to navigate and land back strips. This was my first trip to Idaho but had some experience with off airport landings so I was hesitant to get instruction. All's I can say is GET instruction!!! The knowledge and experience you obtain will keep you alive. Thanks again Fred." ~ Steve from California

“Fred Williams is an excellent instructor with a fantastic airplane that he uses in a beautiful flying environment to teach back country flying. He was eager to share his love of flying with me and used my flying background to determine where to start my training. His costs for instruction are very reasonable and his desire to accommodate is ever present. Thanks, Fred.” ~ Thomas from California

"I would like to write this review about one of the best flight training experiences that I have ever had. I'm a 30 year career seaplane pilot with experience on many aircraft types. Piston and turbine.

I have, however, never flown a tailwheel aircraft. I feel that no aviation career is complete without some real stick and rudder flying in this classic landing gear configuration. I recently bought a Murphy Rebel and know that the Kitfox training will translate well.

The immaculate new Kitfox that Fred Williams operates is probably the best aircraft out there. The Idaho scenery and Fred's relaxed but impeccable instructing techniques are also impossible to beat. I cannot say enough good things about the tailwheel flying with Fred. It's a lot of fun and I cannot recommend this experience highly enough in words.

Check it out for yourself! The wheel landings are too much fun. We had inclement weather which limited our back country experience but I will definitely be back for more.

Thank you for an amazing experience!" ~ Capt. Steve Lane, from British Columbia working in Sri Lanka

"Fred clearly loves to teach pilots to fly in the backcountry – he allows you to fly into very challenging airfields at the limits of your ability, in a safe, relaxed and rewarding way. Be prepared for adrenaline! Landing on an upslope curved runway and taking off downslope (in the curve) at 85U/Solider Bar is the most thrilling experience I’ve had in my flying career. Trust me, you will see me in the backcountry again!" ~ Niclas from Sweden/California

"Thank you Fred for making our trip a great adventure for both of us. Looking forward to John doing more flying." ~ John and Colleen from New Mexico

"Fred, We had a wonderful experience flying with you in Idaho. You exceeded my expectations in every way. You are a great instructor and I am sure I am a better pilot after flying with you. Getting to fly a Kitfox was on my list for 30 years. Your plane is immaculate. Flying to the back country airports was a huge bucket list item. Thanks so much for providing the best flying experience I have ever had. " ~ Stuart from Nevada

“Fred, I really enjoyed flying with you in the Idaho backcountry. You know your stuff- stick and rudder, mountains, weather, and how to set up a learning environment. You are the real deal; keep up the good work! Best Regards, Sam” ~ from California

"Fred is awesome! He listened, asked questions, and came up with great plan for the one day of flying I had with him. My first time in a tail dragger and I came out feeling much better about my flying capabilities with exercises to practice when I get home.

Thank you Fred!” ~ Shelley from Missouri

"Fred, I want you to know that the 3 days of flight with you rate right up there with my first flight ever in a Great Lakes (with a 2 time national aerobatic champion doing aerobatics including hammerhead stalls), my first solo as a student pilot, the first flight of the first aircraft that I owned (that I rebuilt from a wreck over 5 years) and the first flight of the aircraft that I built over a 20 year period. I learned that I have developed some bad habits over 35 years of flying but that you taught an "old dog new tricks". I'll never forget Yanking and Banking over the river and the landings and takeoffs on a narrow 30 degree upslope strip. Again, thanks for everything . . . Sincerely, Joe” ~ from Delaware

"Thank you so much Fred for the amazing backcountry training experience. Your plane was in perfect shape and a lot of fun to fly. Your backcountry knowledge and ability to communicate to me in a concise yet complete manner was exactly what I was hoping to get out of training. Having the ability to get out and take a moment to soak in the beauty of the backcountry strips and rivers/creeks was icing on the cake. You exceeded all my expectations! Thank you for providing me a 5-star flight training experience that was memorable and beyond FUN!!!" ~ Lori from Georgia