How much does it cost to join the Riverside Pilots Flying Club?

Membership has a one-time, non-refundable $3,000 initiation fee and requires a refundable $500 security deposit and an all-in monthly payment of $245 ($180 dues, $55 engine reserves, and $10 upgrade/replacement reserves). Wet hourly rates are $110 for the Cessna 172 and $155 for both the Cessna 182 and Piper Cherokee PA-28-235.

What aircraft can members fly?

The shared fleet includes a Cessna 172M, a Cessna 182P, and a Piper Cherokee PA-28-235, all well maintained with recent engine overhauls. All three are IFR-capable with Garmin GTN 750-series navigators: the 172 has dual Garmin G5s and a 4-place intercom, the 182 has a Garmin G3X, GTN 750xi, Garmin GFC 500 autopilot and 4-place intercom, and the Cherokee 235 has dual G5s, a Garmin GFC 500 autopilot, and a 4-place intercom with Bluetooth audio for music. All aircraft are kept in a private club hangar that also serves as the club meeting area.

Where is the club located?

The club is based at Riverside Municipal Airport (KRAL) in Riverside, California, serving pilots throughout the Inland Empire and Southern California.

How do I become a member?

Submit a membership application and attend a monthly meeting at the airport to meet the board and discuss your flying goals. Membership is limited to 30 members.

Avalon Harbor seen from an RPFC club flight

Southern California coastline seen from an RPFC aircraft

Catalina Airport seen during an RPFC club flight

RPFC aircraft approaching Catalina Airport

Aerial view of Avalon Harbor from an RPFC flight

RPFC Cessna N9137M flying over the Southern California coast

Now accepting new members · Limited to 30*

Your seat in the sky starts at Riverside Pilots Flying Club

A member-owned, non-profit flying club serving Inland Empire pilots for more than 40 years. Fly a well-maintained shared fleet — without the cost or hassle of owning your own aircraft.

Become a Member Meet the Fleet

40+Years flying

3Aircraft

$110Per hour, wet

KRALHome base

Photos from our members

1984Established in SoCal

30*Member cap — real availability

NoDaily minimums

0 minAdvance notice to fly

About the club

Ownership perks. None of the ownership headaches.

Riverside Pilots Flying Club is a true club — owned and run by its members, not a rental counter. For four decades we've pooled our resources to keep a small, well-cared-for fleet ready to fly, so every member gets airplane-owner access at a fraction of the cost.

Aircraft are rented "wet" — fuel is included, so you fill up at any FBO and get reimbursed at a club rate, set twice a year from nearby airport prices. Each aircraft has an assigned Plane Captain, a Maintenance Officer oversees mechanical status, and our Finance Committee reviews rates twice a year in meetings open to every member. It's transparent, it's affordable, and it's built by pilots who actually fly.

Member-owned Non-profit Meticulously maintained Excellent availability

Riverside Pilots Flying Club aircraft at Riverside Municipal Airport

The fleet

Three aircraft. Every mission covered.

From building hours in the 172 to hauling the family in the 182 or Cherokee — recent engine overhauls, glass panels and GTN 750 navigators across the fleet, and low wet rates on all three.

$110/hr wet Cessna 172M N80131, the club's four-seat trainer

N80131

Cessna 172M

The dependable four-seat trainer — perfect for hour-building, currency, and $100 hamburgers. Now getting a Garmin GTN 750 touchscreen navigator.

Year1975
Seats4
Best forTraining & time-building
Available toAll members

Avionics & equipment

Dual Garmin G5Garmin GTN 7504-place intercom

$155/hr wet Cessna 182P N9137M, the club's high-performance cross-country aircraft

N9137M

Cessna 182P

More power, more payload. The go-anywhere cross-country machine for trips to Bullhead City and beyond.

Model182P Skylane
Seats4
Best forCross-country & family trips
Available toAll members

Avionics & equipment

Garmin G3XGarmin GTN 750xiGarmin GFC 500 autopilot4-place intercom

$155/hr wet Piper Cherokee PA-28-235 N55462, the club's low-wing hauler

N55462

Piper Cherokee PA-28-235

A muscular low-wing with a 235-hp engine and serious hauling capability. A member favorite.

Year1973
Seats4
Best forHeavy loads & low-wing lovers
Available toAll members

Avionics & equipment

Dual Garmin G5Garmin GTN 750Garmin GFC 500 autopilot4-place intercomBluetooth audio

All rates are "wet" (fuel included) · No per-day minimums · Every aircraft IFR-capable with a GTN 750-series navigator · Reviewed twice a year by members

Membership

One membership. The whole fleet.

Membership is capped at 30 pilots.* Every member flies all three aircraft, votes at club meetings, and shares the hangar clubhouse.

The full share

Full Member

Every airplane, a vote, and a seat at the table.

One-time initiationNon-refundable$3,000
Security depositRefundable$500
Monthly total$180 dues + $55 engine + $10 upgrade/replacement reserves$245
Then fly fromWet hourly, fuel included$110/hr

✓ All three aircraft — 172, 182 and Cherokee 235
✓ Full voting rights at club meetings
✓ Eligible to serve on the board and as a Plane Captain
✓ Private hangar clubhouse — desk, TV, fridge and restroom
✓ Programs, fly-ins and quarterly safety seminars

Apply for membership Prefer paper? Download the PDF

Capped at 30 pilots* — spots are genuinely limited.

Rates are wet. Fuel bought at any FBO is reimbursed at a club rate, set twice a year from nearby airport prices. No per-day minimums. Rates are reviewed openly twice a year by the members who pay them.

*Membership is currently capped at 30. A rollout to 35 members is planned for 2027 — details TBD.

How to join

Four steps to your first flight.

We keep it personal on purpose — you'll meet the people you'll be flying and wrenching alongside before you ever sign.

Apply

Submit a membership application with a short introduction about yourself and your flying goals.

Meet the board

Attend a monthly meeting at Riverside Municipal to talk through your goals and get your questions answered.

Check out

Complete a checkout in each aircraft with a club instructor so you're safe, current, and confident.

Go flying

Book online, grab the keys, and fly — no daily minimums and no advance-notice hoops.

Request an application Prefer paper? Download the PDF

The people

Meet your 2026 board.

A volunteer board of active members keeps the club flying — approachable, experienced, and always happy to talk aviation.

Ron Becker

President

Michael David

Vice President

Chris Marasco

Secretary

Bob Pring

Treasurer

Larry Hopkins

Maintenance Officer

Rubin Olvera

Safety Officer

Troy Durbin

Programs Officer

Home base

Riverside Municipal Airport (KRAL)

Centrally located in the Inland Empire — an easy hop from Riverside, Corona, and the greater Southern California basin. Tower-controlled, welcoming, and the launching point for coastal runs, desert getaways, and mountain sightseeing.

KRAL / RALAirport identifier

Riverside, CAInland Empire

Mailing Address OnlyRiverside Pilots Flying Club
6951 Flight Road
Riverside, CA 92504

Our hangar is also the clubhouse

All three aircraft live in a private club hangar that doubles as our meeting space — so preflight, hangar flying, and monthly meetings all happen in the same place, out of the sun.

Desk & chairsTVRefrigeratorRestroomSecure hangar storage

View KRAL on AirNav →

On Instagram

Follow the flying — @rivpilots

Follow @rivpilots

See where our members are flying this week. Tag @rivpilots in your own shots and they may land on the site.

RPFC pilots approaching Catalina Airport

RPFC aircraft flying over Southern California mountains

Ready when you are

Come fly with us.

Fill out the form and a club member will reach out to answer your questions and set up a visit to the airport. You're also always welcome at our monthly meetings and plane-wash days.