Meet the Teacher: Matt Curtain

Intro to AviatioN

At The HeART Collective, our teachers aren’t just instructors — they’re people who show up every week to share something they genuinely love. Today we’d like you to meet Matt Curtain, who teaches our Introduction to Aviation Camp here at The HeART Collective in Payson, UT. With 15 years of teaching experience, a passion for flying, and a program he calls truly one of a kind, Matt is on a mission to spark a lifelong love of aviation in every student who walks through the door. We interviewed him and this is what he shared.

From the Boardroom to the Cockpit

My name is Matt Curtain, and I teach the Introduction to Aviation Camp at The HeART Collective. My background in teaching started about 15 years ago in the corporate world, where I taught process improvement and project management, until I started Let’s Fly VR. Aviation has always been the thing that truly lights me up — and getting to bring that into a classroom setting, especially with kids, is something I don’t take for granted.

What I love most is watching kids light up and parents get excited together as they pursue their dreams and make cool memories along the way. That moment when it all clicks — when a student realizes this is something they can actually do — that’s what I show up for.

A Moment I Will Never Forget

My favorite teaching moment has to be watching a group of young students who had completed the initial Path-to-Pilot course get behind the controls of a real plane for the first time — and absolutely nail it. Seeing the smiles on the students, the parents watching, and knowing all that practice and dedication paid off… It is very gratifying. That is exactly why I do this.

My teaching style is supportive, collaborative, and fun. I want every student to feel capable, not just interested. There is a big difference between someone who thinks aviation is cool and someone who walks away believing they could actually pursue it. I want the latter.

The Aviation Camp Is Like No Other

You will learn about aviation principles, sit in a real single-engine aircraft, and even fly one in the simulator. We are one of a kind — literally no one in the country does what we do, and especially not the way we do it. We get proven results, have a lot of fun, spark curiosity, and it’s right here in your backyard.

Students say it’s “an experience like no other” — and honestly, that tracks. Some kids step into the simulator fully expecting a cool video game situation, and within about five minutes they’re like, wait, this is real. The controls respond. The physics matter. You have to actually think. Those who lean in quickly realize how powerful it is to get real-world flight training without any of the — let’s say — real-world consequences of getting it wrong at 3,000 feet.

Bring your curiosity and your love for — or fascination with — aviation. Everything else we handle together. Expect to have a lot of fun and to walk away with real skills that will open doors, if you take full advantage.

Just Try It

If you are nervous or on the fence — just try it. The camp is designed to get your feet wet and give you a real taste of what aviation training looks and feels like. We have fun, make a memory, and who knows — maybe discover a lifelong love for aviation!

Outside of teaching, I fly, of course. I also do software development, photography, and spend as much time as I can with my kids and grandkids.

Check out classes offered by Matt Curtain at The HeART Collective and give your student the chance to learn real aviation skills, discover a passion they didn't know they had, and maybe — just maybe — find out they were born to fly!