Learn to Fly the Backcountry with Wade Litton
I grew up flying aircraft from my dad’s ranch airstrip. I still remember sitting on my dads lap “flying“ the plane, and the first time he gave me the throw-over yoke on his antique Curtiss Wright while saying “see if you can find your way back home”. (I missed by six miles but then saw something I recognized and made the necessary correction).
My father was an airline pilot. He operated a drop zone from our ranch. I was destined to skydive and fly skydivers. As a teenager we took turns flying while the other jumped.
I flew my first solo flight on my 16th birthday and obtained my Private license at 17. I still enjoy flying as much now with over 25,000 hours as I did back then. I have passed that passion for flying on to my children and now on to my grandchildren as I take them “plane” camping to the same backcountry airstrips I took my son to 25 years ago.
My aviation career has included flight instructing, ag pilot (helicopter and fixed wing), skydiver pilot, cargo pilot (including DC-3 and Beech 18), check airman, and director of operations. I have also been a captain at a major airline for over 20 years.
I have been flying in the backcountry for many years in a variety of aircraft. My backcountry experience includes aircraft from high performance experimental all the way to 65hp antiques and many in between.
I hold an ATP: B-737, DC-3, LR-Jet
Commercial privileges: Airplane single-engine land and sea, rotorcraft-helicopter
Flight instructor: Airplane single and multiengine, instrument airplane, rotorcraft-helicopter.
I have a passion for flying that I love to share with others. My goal in flight instructing is to give you the experience in mountain and canyon flying to enable you to safely and confidently perform this type of operation on your own.
I thoroughly enjoy the exhilaration and beauty of flying in the backcountry. I have been privileged to share that experience with many others.