Sean Torbett, FAA Gold Seal Flight Instructor, AGI, CFI, CFI-I, MEI, Tailwheel Instructor, Seaplane Pilot and President of V Speed Aviation, LLC
After growing up fascinated with space travel and flight, Sean decided to be completely unconventional by joining the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and jumping *out* of perfectly good airplanes for several years. Then after deployment for a one-year tour patrolling the Korean DMZ he returned to Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty) to serve in the Persian Gulf War with the 82nd Airborne Infantry again. After his initial enlistment was up he re-enlisted and graduated from the U.S. Army Electronic Warfare School and later transitioned to civilian life working as the Chief Engineer for multiple television stations around the country before settling in Reno, Nevada.
While managing the engineering efforts at a television station in Reno, he was working with an aviator that had a previous career in aviation maintenance, but was still flying his Light Sport Airplane which rekindled that fire for flight and a better realization of how accessible that goal was. He worked to earn his Private Pilot certificate flying in the early mornings out of Minden (KMEV) and then driving back to work in Reno for the remainder of the day. Then, after ending the 25-year career in television engineering it was just the right time to go all-in and focus on being a professional pilot by attending the ATP Flight School out of Tucson (KTUS) and Mesa-Gateway (KIWA), Arizona.
While at ATP he earned his Instrument rating, Commercial Pilot certificate, and Multi-Engine rating. After that, it was off to CFI Academy at KIWA to test for his Certified Flight Instructor certificate and then back to Tucson for the CFI Instrument and Multi-Engine Instructor ratings.
In addition to being rated as a commercial pilot and CFI for single and multi-engine land airplanes, he holds endorsements for High Performance, Complex, Tailwheel aircraft and is a commercial-rated CFI for Single Engine Seaplanes.
Sean has over 2,800 flight hours in over 20 different kinds of single and multi-engine aircraft, provided over 2,200 hours of flight instruction, is an FAA certified Gold Seal flight instructor, a certificated Advanced Ground Instructor, is a member in good standing with the National Association of Flight Instructors, AOPA, EAA, and also a very active participant in the FAA Safety Team program, having completed multiple phases in all three Basic, Advanced, and Master Wings levels.
He’s also had a few opportunities to fly rescue flights for Pilots-N-Paws around Oregon and California and when he wins the lottery would like to do that full time.
When not working with clients ferrying airplanes, conducting pilot flight reviews, or providing one-on-one training for owner pilots in a variety of airplanes out of the local Northern Nevada airports, he is usually working with the High Sierra Pilots Flying Club teaching students on an as-needed basis.
He also has exclusive management of a 1964 Cessna Centurion which he uses for training pilots for their High Performance and Complex endorsements.
It is also an excellent IFR platform with autopilot which allows for a more accurate “professional” flight experience to maintain IFR currency and proficiency.
