A Great Place to Fly

Aviation is more than a hobby or career — it’s a lifestyle propelled by passion. We work very hard to help every one of our customers cultivate this shared passion with our professional team of aviation experts focused on delivering exceptional experiences that are safe and fun. As a critical component of this effort, we provide an ultramodern, first-rate fleet of both airplanes and helicopters that is ideal for charter, training, or renting.

Premium Air Charters — We offer VIP-caliber air charter service in a variety of safe, versatile, modern, and comfortable aircraft.
World-Class Flight Training — Aspiring pilots excel in our professional flight school thanks to the aid of our state-of-the-art fleet and our incredibly experienced and knowledgeable team of flight instructors.
Superior Aircraft Service — Our maintenance and detailing team is committed to serving our clients with a laser focus on attention to detail, keeping our clients feeling great about their aircraft — both inside and out!

Our Mission

At Sweet Aviation, our customers’ success and satisfaction are at the core of why we do what we do. Our mission is to help customers achieve their ambitions of flight by providing a fun, safe, and memorable experience that accomplishes their aviation goals and exceeds expectations.

Sweet Aviation accomplishes this mission by “Doing the Right Thing!”

Events

The aviation community is a group of like-minded, fun, and passionate individuals, and we try to find and create as many opportunities as possible to bring everyone together. We’d love to see you at one of our upcoming events or classes! We’ll be updating this list monthly, so be sure to check back often or get on our mailing list. If there’s an aviation event or meeting you’d like to schedule at Sweet Aviation, get in touch with us.

Upcoming Events

View All Events

Careers

We’re always on the lookout for aviation enthusiasts as passionate about customer service as we are! If you are interested in joining the Sweet Aviation team here in Fort Wayne, feel free to submit your résumé and cover letter. We’ll keep them on file, and if you seem like the right fit for one of our openings, we’ll give you a call.

Current Openings

Hangar Talk

Welcome to Hangar Talk! If you’re looking to learn more about aircraft and flying or simply want to gain a little insight into pilot life, Hangar Talk has it all!

Current Articles

Our Team

Welcome to Sweet Aviation! Flying is more than a hobby or career — it’s a lifestyle propelled by passion. We work very hard to help every one of our customers cultivate that passion by providing an ultramodern, first-rate fleet, ideal for training, chartering, or renting, along with a professional, highly trained staff who love aviation as much as our customers!

Chuck Surack, Owner

You may recognize Chuck Surack as the Founder of Sweetwater Sound, as the owner of luxury car dealership SweetCars, or as a community leader, serving on the boards of many local non-profit organizations.

What you might not know is that Chuck is a helicopter pilot and aircraft enthusiast. Inspired by his aviator father, Chuck has loved flying since childhood, even keeping his Boy Scouts Aviation merit badge to this day. His first flying experiences were in his dad’s Aeronca Chief based right here at Smith Field. Chuck would go on to own many other airplanes and helicopters, such as the Cessna 414, Cessna Citations, and the Eurocopter EC130, just to name a few. He loves flying and can often be found at the helm of a helicopter. He and his wife, Lisa, have two sons and a daughter.

Joel Pierce, General Manager, Chief Flight Instructor & Charter Pilot

With well over 20 years of flight experience, Joel’s passion for flight knows no bounds. In 2002 Joel earned his private pilot certificate, later attending the International Air Land Emergency Resource Team (ALERT) Academy where he obtained his instrument rating along with his commercial and flight instructor certificates.

At over 5,000 hours of flight instruction, Joel now leads the staff at Sweet Aviation and passionately assists the aviation enthusiasts of Fort Wayne with reaching their dreams of flight. He is type rated in Sweet Aviation’s Cirrus Vision Jet, certified to fly client’s T-28, as well as highly skilled in aerobatic maneuvers in the Super Decathlon.

Michael Neese, Operations Manager & Certified Helicopter Flight Instructor

Originally from Cloverdale, Indiana, Michael graduated from Manchester University, later working in Indianapolis in international logistics.

That all changed for Michael after a helicopter tour around the San Francisco Bay Area. After that, he felt destiny pull him in the direction of aviation which led him to training at Sweet Aviation. He has since obtained his fixed-wing private pilot certificate and helicopter CFI rating.

When Michael has his feet on the ground, he operates a non-profit sports foundation as well as several other community focused ventures in Fort Wayne.

Tim Edmonds, Director of Operations

Tim started his journey in aviation over 36 years ago with an impressive array of flight experience ranging from service in the military to corporate flights. He also has thousands of hours of international, mountain, and overwater flights in helicopters and airplanes.

Tim graduated with a bachelors’s degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is a graduate of the FAA ATC Academy.

Charter

Andrew Herman , Chief Pilot

Originally from Bryan, Ohio, Andrew got his first taste of flight back in the seventh grade and hasn’t slowed down since. He went on to earn his aviation degree from Bowling Green – Milwaukee and completed his flight training in Ohio, Connecticut, and North Dakota.

Andrew’s flight time and ratings are in a multitude of aircraft resulting in over 1,200 hours of flight instruction and charter experience.

Joel Pierce , General Manager, Chief Flight Instructor & Charter Pilot

Steven Sparks , Charter Pilot

Head of operational oversight of Sweet Aviation’s fixed-wing charter aircraft fleet, Steven originally hails from Holland, Michigan. Before joining the team, Steven was in Knoxville, Tennessee where he was the Director of Flight Standards with CIRRUS Aircraft.

In his down-time, Steven enjoys playing golf, working on his landscaping, and reading.

Tyler Beachy , Charter Pilot

From the Army National Guard to Envoy Air, Tyler has had his head in the clouds from a young age. Born in Goshen, Indiana, Tyler graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Professional Flight Technology.

A Learjet 35, Falcon 20 aircraft, CRJ 700, and ERJ 175 are just a few of the aircraft that Tyler has flown along with the Pilatus PC-12 he currently operates.

Tyler is back in his hometown of Goshen with his wife, Tiffany, and their two daughters.

Lorin Kaney , Charter Pilot & Certified Flight Instructor

Lorin began his journey in aviation in 2003 at the ALERT Academy in Texas, eventually obtaining his private pilot license, instrument rating, A&P license, and CFI/CFII.

Born in Northwest Indiana, Lorin moved to Fort Wayne with his wife and what he enjoys most about Sweet Aviation is the opportunity to share in the joy of flight with his students as well as guide them to becoming safe and proficient pilots.

Tyson Whitner , Lead Flight Instructor & Charter Pilot

A Fort Wayne native, Tyson first got his taste of flying at Smith Field with the Young Eagles. He followed that passion through high school, participating in programs that led him towards his A&P license. He later graduated from Indiana State University with a degree in Professional Flight Technology while playing football for the Sycamores.

Tyson also has his private, instrument, commercial, and CFI/CFII certificates and is eager to share his passion for flying with the Fort Wayne community.

Rachel Cheng , Charter Operations Specialist & Maintenance Administrative Assistant

Originally from Fort Wayne, Rachel joined the Sweet Aviation family in 2015 and has over fifteen years of customer service experience. She is a graduate of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne with a bachelor’s in psychology and is looking forward to becoming a pilot herself soon.

Instructors

Paul Wilhelmson, Flight Training Manager

Growing up in Bolivia flying mission aviation airplanes, Paul’s passion for flying is vast. He earned his private, instrument, commercial and A&P licenses at the school of Missionary Aviation Technology in Michigan, later spending a few years working as a pilot and A&P in both Indonesia and Bolivia.

Previously, Paul worked in Indianapolis obtaining his multi-engine commercial and CFI ratings.

He enjoys sharing his unique experience and passion for aviation with others as well as spending time with his wife, Jami, and their four children.

Tyson Whitner, Lead Flight Instructor & Charter Pilot

Tyson also has his private, instrument, commercial, and CFI/CFII certificates and is eager to share his passion for flying with the Fort Wayne community.

Christopher Houser, Certified Helicopter Flight Instructor

For Christopher, aviation is in his DNA. As a third-generation pilot, he is a certified helicopter flight instructor with experience on a variety of helicopters including Bell, Robinson, and Eurocopter just to name a few. He is also a certified drone operator.

Christopher graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s in law and society, eventually leading him to becoming an active police officer after graduating from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.

Bob Schmelz, Certified Flight Instructor

Bob is no stranger to the aviation community in Fort Wayne having been an instructor in the area since 1987. He enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for aviation with others, volunteering with the EAA Young Eagles, Scouting’s Aviation Explorers, and the Civil Air Patrol.

Bob is rated for single-engine land with instrument and commercial privileges plus glider and multi-engine endorsements.

Carl Dole, Certified Flight Instructor

It all began with Carl’s first ride in a Cessna 182 piloted by his uncle. Ever since then, he’s been hooked, leading him to obtain his CFI as well as a bachelor’s from Purdue University and a master’s from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Carl has experience in various single-engine aircraft and is the sole owner of a PA-16 aircraft and enjoys applying his experience as a college course instructor to training new pilots.

Brett Uecker, Certified Flight Instructor

Brett grew up in Churubusco, Indiana and graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor’s in Science and Professional Flight Technology. Brett also attained his private, instrument, and commercial pilots license in single and multi-engine aircraft while in school. He says that the fist introductory flight at Purdue is his most memorable flight still to this day.

Brett earned his CFI at Sweet Aviation and joined the team shortly after, sharing his experiences and passion for flying with new pilots as well as continuing to grow as a pilot himself.

Tony Gongaware, Certified Flight Instructor

After taking a discovery flight, Tony was immediately ‘all-in’ on pursuing a career in aviation.

Tony grew up in the Chicago area and attended Olivet Nazarene University, later spending three years in full-time youth ministry followed by working as a college baseball coach.

Following stops in Missouri and Florida, he and his family settled in Fort Wayne. Tony is passionate about helping others learn and can’t wait to pass on his enthusiasm for flight with future pilots.

Corey Bonbrake, Certified Flight Instructor

Growing up in Huntington, Indiana, Cory has been fascinated by airplanes since his childhood. At sixteen years old, Cory took a discovery flight at the Huntington Municipal Airport and has been flying ever since.

After earning his private pilot certificate and completing high school at Huntington North, Cory attended Purdue University to study Professional Flight Technology. There, he also obtained his commercial pilot’s license for single-engine and multi-engine aircraft, instrument rating, and CFI.

Cory loves sharing his passion for aviation and is continually looking for new ways to learn and grow as an instructor and pilot.

Dylan Mast, Certified Flight Instructor

Dylan’s journey in aviation began during his high school summer while loading crop dusters in Shipshewana, Indiana.

After graduating from Westview High School, he studied Professional Flight Technology at Purdue University where he earned his instrument rating, commercial ASEL and AMEL certificates, and CFI.

Like his mentors did for him, Dylan hopes to instill a love of flying in others through his work.

Rick Knight, Certified Flight Instructor

Rick’s done it all from Air Force pilot training on T-37 and T-38 aircraft, flying several planes in the American Airlines fleet around the world, to being a check airman and instructor and so much more.

Experience spanning nearly 50 years and an unprecedented passion Rick is the ultimate aircraft enthusiast. His early days were spent right here in Fort Wayne at Smith Field and his passion led him all across the globe.

Keith Phillips, Certified Flight Instructor

A native of Holland, Michigan, Keith graduated from Concordia University – Ann Arbor with a degree in business and eventually landed in Fort Myers, Florida, where he attended flight school. There, he earned his PPL, instrument, commercial ASEL and AMEL, MEI and CFI/CFII certificates.

Aside from flying, Keith is an avid outdoorsmen and enjoys playing golf, hunting, and fishing.

Josh Huber, Certified Flight Instructor

Josh currently resides in Northwest Ohio and is a recent aviation enthusiast. He earned his instructor rating here at Sweet Aviation and continues to pursue additional training, ratings, and certifications.

Carter Stuard, Certified Helicopter Flight Instructor

Since the age of six, Carter has had a deep rooted love of aviation. While in his senior year of high school in Danville, Indiana, Carter earned his private airplane pilot certification and has since obtained his airplane instrument rating, helicopter private pilot certificate, helicopter commercial certificate, and his helicopter certified flight instructor certificate.

Carter currently lives in Bluffton, Indiana and is working toward his degree in mathematics at Indiana University East.

Maintenance

Sean Barr, Director of Maintenance & Certified Aircraft Mechanic

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Sean graduated with honors from the US Air Force Academy with a bachelor’s in political science and a German language minor. He went on to serve eleven years on active duty as an Air Force Special Operations Pilot, logging over 2,100 hours of flight time including 1,000 hours of combat over Iraq and Afghanistan. For his accomplishments Sean was awarded a Bronze Star and eleven Air Medals.

In addition to aircraft, Sean is also passionate about his faith and earned his master’s in Theological Studies from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary while attending A&P school.

Sean enjoys spending time with his four daughters, as well as camping, traveling, and hunting.

Austin Scheiderer, Certified Aircraft Mechanic

Austin earned his A&P and commercial pilot certificates from the School of Missionary Aviation Technology and has had a career as an aircraft mechanic and flown aerial survey missions across the United States.

Austin later graduated from Ethnos360 Bible Institute with an associate’s in biblical studies. He and his wife, Katie, have have a daughter and hope to one day fly with Ethnos360 as overseas missionaries.

John Wyatt, Certified Aircraft Mechanic

John was born and raised in Fort Wayne, he received his first introduction to Aviation during a Young Eagles event at Smith Field when he was 15. He has been hooked on aviation ever since and has come full circle, having flown in two Young Eagle events himself.

After graduating from Bishop Luers Catholic High School, John enrolled in Ivy Tech’s Aviation Maintenance Technician program. He studied for his A&P during the school year while simultaneously completing his pilot’s license in the summer months. He looks forward to working towards his IA and additional pilots certificates as well as sharing his passion for aviation. When not involved in aviation, you can find John spending time with family and friends, camping, fishing, adventure riding, or enjoying anything and everything outdoors.

Customer Service

Taylor Brennan, Lead Customer Service Representative

Taylor was born and raised in Arizona and earned a degree in psychology from Arizona State University followed by a career in education and playing in her local band.

Taylor later fell in love with aviation after a couple of discovery flights including an EC130 in Hawaii. She is excited to work with those who share a passion for aircraft and to expand her knowledge of aviation.

Scotty Hepler, Pilot & Customer Service Representative

Scotty became a private pilot in 1986 followed by a 22-year long career in the Air National Guard as an air traffic controller, but his commitment to community doesn’t stop there. Scotty also spent two decades as a volunteer firefighter and EMT.

Michael Brewer, Pilot & Customer Service Representative

Michael attended Vincennes University in the aviation flight program. There, he received private, commercial, and instrument flight training. He only recently returned to the aviation industry after an exciting 18-year adventure in the live music industry. Now, being a part of Sweet Aviation, he gets to enjoy his passion for both music and flying.

Tim Ormsby, Pilot & Customer Service Representative

Tim has had a longtime love for flying after obtaining his private pilot license in 1987 at Smith Field. He has since owned several different single and twin-engined airplanes and has logged over 3,450 hours of total flight time.

Tim is also a mission pilot with the Civil Air Patrol and a volunteer piloting Young Eagle flights and flying rescue dogs to their new foster homes for Pilots ’n Paws.

Brandon Graber, Pilot & Customer Service Representative

Originally from Nebraska, Brandon graduated from Indiana University and has called Fort Wayne home since 2004.

His passion for helicopters was ignited after college when he had the opportunity to fly in a UH-60 Blackhawk through the Army officer training battalion over the IU campus. Since that moment he focused on becoming a pilot.

Brandon obtained his private helicopter certificate in 2019 and is currently working towards his commercial rating and hopes to be a CFI for Sweet Aviation as well as an ATP-rated helicopter pilot.

Taylor Fear, Customer Service Representative

Originally from Bluffton, Indiana, Taylor graduated from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne with a degree in mechanical engineering technology and is currently working towards his MBA.

After a discovery flight with Sweet Aviation Taylor knew he wanted to fly someday and is planning to pursue flight training soon.

Will Capeheart, Customer Service Representative

Will’s enthusiasm for aviation is in his genetics as his father was in the United States Air Force for 20 years as an aircraft mechanic.

Will graduated from Faith International Academy in the Philippines in 2017 and returned to the United States to begin the bachelor’s program in interpersonal communication at Purdue University Fort Wayne. He hopes to continue his education with an associates for professional flight and possibly become a pilot himself.

Matt Shotts, Customer Service Representative

A Northeast Indiana native, Matt has always loved flying and focused that passion to obtain an associate’s degree in aviation flight technology from Vincennes University as well as a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Indiana Wesleyan University.

He has experience as both a flight instructor and as a charter pilot and currently works as an RN at Parkview in Fort Wayne where he lives with his wife Rhonda and their two sons.

Hannah Allred, Accounting

A lifelong resident of the Fort Wayne area, Hannah joined Sweet Aviation in June of 2014. She is not yet a pilot, but she does enjoy the aviation community and looks forward to her annual trips to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

About Us

A Passion for Aviation

A Great Place to Fly

Our Mission