Executive Flight Services, LLC

24 December 2021

I just completed transition training into my Bonanza N35, including complex and high-performance endorsements with Robert Benda. He was reassuring and personable beginning with our first phone conversation. I’m a private pilot with a little less than 300 hours total time, having flown C172s and Cherokees. I found Robert to be demanding, but calm, competent, communicative, and not intimidating. He is on the short list of ABS BPPP certified instructors. His specialty is Bonanzas with owner pilots, but he’s an ATP and can fly most anything. He is worth every penny of his fees and will not waste your time or milk the training process. In many cases he will travel to you and is surely worth the expense. If you are struggling with ineffective or revolving-door flight instructors, give Robert Benda a call. You won’t be disappointed.

10 January 2022

I worked with Robert Benda in November of 2021 when I was trading up from an A36 to a 58P Baron. He was recommended to me by Neal Schwartz of Latitude Aviation, and Robert provided my insurance approved transition training.

Simply put, Robert Benda is awesome. He is not only an outstanding CFII but is also an A&P who previously owned a P-Baron. He was absolutely indispensable for me through the pre-buy inspection and delivery process. I can't emphasize enough how important it was to have Robert at my side to help me understand the various squawks and maintenance issues that arose during the purchase process. I was a bonanza owner for 5 years and it was an intimidating step up to the P-Baron. I can't imagine purchasing such a complex aircraft without Robert to help make sure everything was done fairly, properly, and safely.

Robert also proved to be a fantastic instructor. He is wonderful to work with because he is thorough, precise and has a great sense of humor. We did lots of intensive training, and despite pushing me hard, I never felt uncomfortable or overwhelmed. Robert's patience and thoroughness was exactly what I needed as a low time twin pilot! Working with Robert was also logistically very convenient because he flew out to meet me for the pre-buy inspection. He also worked around my schedule and adapted to the several delays that came up during the purchase and delivery process. As an example, one of our breaks between training flights was filled by Robert switching around the rear-seat installation, moving the fire extinguisher mount, and installing new microphone switches. Robert is an amazing one-stop-shop expert; he can handle and help with everything!

I highly recommend Robert as both a MEI & CFII, as well as an A&P. If you are buying a twin and need transition training, he is simply the best because he can provide expertise and training for the whole process. Buying a plane can be a stressful process but working with Robert made transitioning to a P-Baron a pleasurable and successful experience.

However, all good things must come to an end. Arrival into the Phoenix area from the north presented an interesting decent.

Departure out of Sun Valley and climbed to 27,000' to take advantage of the great tailwind. Notice the tailwind in the lower left portion of the photo and the ground speed in the upper left portion.

Beautiful sunrise over the Grand Canyon at 26,000' enroute to Sun Valley ID to pick up the owner and his wife.