Flight School

On Friday, July 24, 2026, a group of elementary and middle school-aged students visited the Clarksville, Virginia, airport for an exciting educational experience focused on aviation. The students had the opportunity to explore the airport and sit inside Empire Aviation’s…

On Friday, July 24, 2026, Jason Catrell took to the skies for his first introductory flight with Empire Aviation in a Cessna 172 from Clarksville, Virginia. Jason had a fantastic time experiencing the excitement of general aviation and seeing the…

Pups, Parking, Planes, Oh My! It's been a busy season at Empire Aviation, with improvements around the airport, a newly restored aircraft joining the fleet, and even a four-legged passenger enjoying some open-air cruising. HNZ Driveway & Parking Improvements Near…

A Father–Son Holiday Flight to Sedona For Christmas this year Paul and his son Marcus took a memorable trip to Tucson—one that turned into a truly special father-son aviation adventure. The highlight of the journey was checking off a long-time…

✈️ Did you know Empire Aviation has had a second base of operations at KCXE Airport in Chase City, Virginia for years now? Here’s what’s happening: The runway has been closed since August, making way for major improvements. A brand-new runway and ramp were originally set to debut in…

Have you ever visited PACE Airport in Ridgeway, VA? Just a 25-minute flight from KHNZ, PACE holds a community fly-in breakfast every Sunday of the year. Earlier this summer On Sunday, June 28, Paul's beagle Bodhi had the pleasure of…

Honoring Rick Gutlon — 25 Years of Dedication to administering our website at Empire-Aviation.com After 25 incredible years, we wish to honor and thank Rick Gutlon, has been the longtime website administrator and designer for Empire-Aviation.com. Rick first launched the…

Kayoko Stewart and Paul Hesse Promoting aviation education at a Middle School Job Opportunities Fair in Burlington, NC, May 2022.