For years, one of the key problems with aviation has been accessibility. The 10,000+USD price tag of a Private Pilot’s Certificate is a huge barrier to entry. A Sport Pilot’s Certificate, despite the reduced flight hour requirement, can cost just as much. And the costs only start there. Gas, insurance, and maintenance get tacked on top. Many people find it hard to justify the cost of flying, especially if it is not their chosen career path.
So how do you fix it?
The CohenCraft approach addresses more than just cutting costs. To justify the price, people need to get more out of what they are buying. Our aircraft are designed for more than just flying around. This can mean VTOL/STOL, water-landing, flight-training, roadability, and even converting into a camper! The goal is to provide a product that can meet all your recreational and practical needs.
CohenCraft also addresses the other part of the puzzle: learning to fly. STEM programs are the first step in showing the next generation that there is a path for them in aviation. Education is a crucial piece. But the standard classroom and ground school are not how you do it. Fun, low-cost training products that keep student’s attention while applying hands-on concepts are the answer. The more you can do on the ground, while teaching crucial skills, the lower costs will be. The goal is to ensure that only the minimum number of flying hours are needed for certification.
CohenCraft applies its guiding principles to all forms of transportation. Whether air, land, or sea, we find innovative ways of bringing affordable, high-utility products to the market.
John Cohen, Founder and Owner
John was born into aviation. His father and namesake had been involved in just about every form of general aviation. From banner-towing, crop-dusting to airport management and flight-instruction, he did it all. Naturally, John flew with his father from a very young age, and has been hooked ever since.
In middle school, he began designing, building, and flying hang gliders and ultralights. He was fascinated by the sheer simplicity and low-cost of hang gliders. How incredible it felt to design and build your own wings! John earned his Private Pilot’s Certificate, Complex and High Performance Ratings, and Advanced Ground Instructor’s Certificate. He went to University of Maryland, College Park, and earned a degree in Aerospace Engineering, with a focus on Aeronautics/Aircraft Design. He studied Business through a Harvard Business School online program.
John has worked for Defense Contractors and the U.S. Navy as an Aerospace Engineer. His goal has always been to bring his designs to the market, and to shape the future of aviation and light aircraft.