WETSU Aviation
Specialized Tailwheel, Aerobatic, Upset & Backcountry Flight Training
Tailwheel endorsements, Super Decathlon training, spins, aerobatics, upset recovery, backcountry and off-airport operations in the Colorado Springs area.
Training with the Bellanca Super Decathlon 8KCAB N2JG.
Enhancing Pilot Confidence, Precision and Control
Specialty flight training, mountain flying, aerobatics, tailwheel instruction, and unforgettable Colorado aviation experiences.
Maintained Like Your Safety Depends On It — Because It Does
Every aircraft in our fleet runs on a full maintenance rhythm: in-depth annual inspections followed by comprehensive 50 and 100 hour inspections. It's not just a box to check.
The Super Decathlon gets extra attention. Aerobatic flying puts real stress on an airframe and engine, so it's serviced on a tighter interval than a standard cross-country airplane. Every parachute on board is repacked by a certificated rigger within the FAA-required 180-day window — non-negotiable, every time.
You show up to fly. We make sure the airplanes are ready.
Continue Your Flight Training Journey
Our hangar is more than a place to park an airplane — heated through the Colorado winter, with a kitchen and restroom, and living space to debrief, study, or wait out weather between flights.
Ready to get on the schedule?
Book your training through Flight Circle. Contact us to set up your account.
WHY TRAIN WITH WETSU AVIATION
Off-Airport & Backcountry Operations
Landing on a runway is one skill. Landing on an unimproved strip, judging a surface you've never seen before, and knowing when to walk away — that's a different discipline entirely, and it's one most pilots never get exposed to. Backcountry training here means real terrain, not a simulated scenario.
Aerobatic Instruction, Trained Under the Best
Scott didn't learn aerobatics from a manual — he trained directly under Patty Wagstaff, one of the most decorated aerobatic pilots in U.S. history, and teaches that same foundation in his own Bellanca Super Decathlon. Spins, loops, rolls and upset recovery build a level of aircraft control that pays off in every kind of flying you do afterward.
Fly Where the Margins Are Real
Colorado Springs sits at high elevation, where summer heat and thin air turn "hot, heavy, and high" from a textbook phrase into something you actually have to manage. Pilots coming from sea-level states get performance-challenge experience here that simply doesn't exist at home — and it's exactly the kind of flying that catches pilots off guard if they've never done it before.
Instruction You and Your Family Can Trust
Scott brings 25 years of military discipline into every lesson, backed by 1600+ hours of dual instruction given and a 100% first-time checkride pass rate. You're training with someone who's done it, not just taught it.
Listed in AOPA's official Flight School Finder
Watch Before You Fly
An Air Force Academy cadet puts the Super Decathlon through spins and aerobatics — the same training Scott teaches, learned while flying with Patty Wagstaff and her team.
Not a Demo Reel — Our Own Backyard
Watch a short-field takeoff and landing happen in real conditions, the same skills you'll build in training: judging a surface before you commit to it, managing energy on short final, and knowing exactly how much runway you actually need.
Short-field landing in a Super Cub, Black Forest, CO: judging the surface, managing energy, and committing to the touchdown point.
Super Cub short-field takeoff, Black Forest, CO: the same departure decisions backcountry training builds.
What our pilots are saying
Jake Brunsell
USAFA Flying Team
Tailwheel Endorsement, Multi-engine Commercial.
“I initially met with Scotty to do an intro to aerobatics flight. He was very welcoming and the sortie was some of the most fun flying I’ve ever done.
After the flight, I mentioned I wanted to get my commercial multi-engine license and asked if he would be willing to train me in his Baron. We flew every Sunday for the next few months until I was ready for my checkride, which I passed.
The level of training Scotty gives is on par with the training I have gotten from the military, and his aircraft are all maintained extraordinarily well.
I’m grateful for the training and mentorship I’ve gotten from Scotty and look forward to flying more.” Jake Brunsell
Chad Penkus
Penkus Properties
Tailwheel Endorsement, Commercial Single.
Lukas Simko
USAFA Flying Team
Tailwheel Endorsement, Primary Aerobatics and Backcountry and Off-airport Operations.
“Between Scotty and Pat, I couldn't have asked for a better introduction to taildragger flying. Pat helped me knock out my endorsement in an honest, straightforward manner. From there, Scotty gave me a fantastic introduction to aerobatics and off-airport flying, both things that I plan to pursue for the rest of my flying career. Beyond the flight instruction, I gained an immense amount of practical knowledge and mentorship from two highly accomplished folks who were always willing to stick around, chat, and impart wisdom." Lukas S.
Shane Oatman
USAF T38 Talon Instructor Pilot
Tailwheel Endorsement, Multi-engine, Primary Aerobatics, Backcountry and Off-airport operations.
Morgan Modica
USAF F22 Raptor Pilot
Introduction to Aerobatics and Introduction to Formation Flying.
Giles Beebe
USAF F22 Raptor Pilot
Tailwheel Endorsement, Initial CFI Spin Training, and Introductory Low-level Flight.
“Scott Oatman is a true professional and has a passion for flying. The importance of aviation in his life reflects in his instruction; he is an excellent teacher and communicator. His approach to flying is well thought out and he had the ability to impart that upon me during my tailwheel certification. During my training he taught and evaluated me in as many different conditions and situations as we could find. I really feel comfortable tailwheel flying on my own because he made sure I’ve seen almost anything I could encounter. Scott’s a fantastic person and a gem of a flight instructor; I couldn’t recommend him enough.” Giles Beebe
Giving Back
WETSU Aviation was proud to support Warrior Mission Ranch by donating a Mountain Experience to its fundraising auction Heart of a Warrior Gala held in February, 2026.