Flying Secrets transforms lives.

We provide information that brings non-pilots into that exclusive club of pilots so they, too, can know true freedom and live the adventures that flying brings. We share our adventures with you and want you to share your adventures with the people who are important to you personally as well as other pilots.

Founded by Doug Daniel, a US Army colonel, who was up-rooted from his civilian life four times to command Special Operations forces in combat. As a civilian, he conducted research in fluid mechanics during the day while teaching flying morning, noon and evenings. He flew more than 2,300 hours and instructed over 1,200 hours.

Doug test-flew an experimental airplane designed by Burt Rutan and built by him and a friend.

Doug managed an engineering department for the world’s first and largest aircraft simulator manufacturer. He was instrumental in the development of simulators for the Apache attack helicopter, the B-52, the Stealth Fighter and the Stealth Bomber.

After working in a series of senior management positions for high tech companies in California’s Silicon Valley, Doug has ‘retired’ and moved to Europe where he is free to work full time pursuing his passions of teaching flying and sailing.

No two pilots are alike. Just because I soloed in six hours and twenty five minutes of flight time with an instructor does not mean that anyone else will, ever. This is my best shot at telling you what I have learned and what has worked for me and my students. You need to fly with an instructor you trust, follow his or her advice, and assiduously adhere to all of the rules, regulations and policies that apply to your flying environment. You should take everything that I put into this site, say, or write as pure fiction and ignore it.