The people in the right seat

Lakey, the chief pilot and owner of Vortex Flight School, hails from Louisa County, Virginia. As a graduate of Randolph-Macon College in Business and Economics, he knows what it takes to deliver quality flight training to students.

His professional journey has taken him to remote regions of the Alaskan wilderness, where he worked as a big game hunting guide and commercial fisherman. Lakey has spent considerable time in Alaskan bush and float planes, and has learned from the nation’s finest pilots.

George serves as our senior instructor, leveraging his extensive military experience as a staff sergeant with a Blackhawk crew to give students a perspective few schools can offer.

After moving into professional flying he operated King Airs for Fisher Auto Parts, and currently pilots PC-12s and jets out of Leesburg, Virginia. He still teaches at Vortex between trips, and students get the turbine-world standard applied to a 172.

A Florida native and long-time Virginia resident, Trey teaches on the principle that every flight is a chance to hand a student something they can use on the next one.

With a commitment to excellence and personalized instruction, he works to help each student build confidence, skill, and a lifelong love for the skies.

Joel grew up throughout the country in a military family and was inspired to fly by his father, who served as a pilot. Early in his training he gained valuable experience flying tailwheel aircraft and operating off grass strips.

He later graduated Magna Cum Laude from Liberty University’s residential Part 141 flight program, and now teaches the fundamentals at Vortex the way he was taught them.