So, the Flynns found the nearest school to Central Florida and signed up. This meant many 2 hour commutes to Lake Wales, Florida, but over the next six to eight months, they learned to control the wing to eventually tow to 1,000 ft. AGL. Remember, there was no tandem instruction back then. The student was strapped into a low-performance wing attached to a 150 ft. rope. The student stood on the beach while the boat took off at about 25 mph. When the rope came tight, the student was yanked (popped-off) the beach. For the first few flights, most students froze and simply splashed in from 50 ft. or so. But eventually, the student learned to prolong their flight by controlling the wing. This method of instruction was hard on the body and hard on the equipment. Many students quit the sport before they reached moderate proficiency.

In 1981, Steve Flynn became certified as a USHGA Basic Instructor. For the next five years, Steve taught hang gliding in Central Florida and Barbara became the assistant instructor and boat captain. More than 50 student pilots learned to hang glide with Central Florida Flyers from 1981-1986. In December '86, the Flynns decided to retire from teaching and just enjoy the sport. It was during this period that aerotowing in Florida began.

Aerotowing (air-to-air towing) seemed like an efficient way to get into the air. At least in the Winter you didn't have to worry about getting dunked in the cold water. And, the pilot is no longer limited to the area within about a mile of the lake to search for thermals. But the first aerotows were also scary. The tug vehicles were incapable of maintaining an airspeed of under 30 mph, which meant that the towed hang glider was flying faster than the best controllable speed. Everything happens faster when you are flying faster.
 
In 1989, Steve and a handful of other local pilots and investors began to build the first aerotug in Florida. The first design was actually a BFG, 400 sq. ft. hang glider mounted on a trike.  Take off speed was about 10 mph, not suitable for towing.  The second aerotug was a highly modified "King Cobra."  This became the first full-time aerotug in Florida in February 1989.  Steve became the 4th trained tug pilot of this tug.  By this time, pilots from around the state and neighboring states were coming to aerotow behind this uniquely designed aircraft that had a stall speed of less than 20 mph.  In order to support the tug the regular pilots formed a chapter of the USHGA called the "Draggin Flyers."  Steve served as President of the Draggin Flyers Hang Gliding Association from January 1993 - March 1994.

In 1993 the Flynns began building their own tow plane which was completed in March 1994 and made its debute at Sun 'n Fun that year.  This aerotug became the first ever, home-built, registered experimental, aerotug.

In the Spring of 1998, major modifications were made to the Arrowtug.  The Flynns reinforced the fuselage boomtube, changed the passenger and engine mounting to cromemoly, and installed a Verner 1400, 80-hp, 4-stroke, powerplant with a 70" warp drive prop.  These modifications made considerable improvements in the overall performance of the aircraft.