Archive
for May, 2016
New Sport Pilot – Duncan Clark
May 25 2016Date: May 24, 2016
Instructor: Jason Brown
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Certification: Sport Pilot License
Duncan Clark successfully completed his Sport Pilot checkride! We love making new pilots 🙂 Duncan started his checkride with examiner Jim Henson at 8 am in Sacramento, arriving back at Reid hillview at 4 pm. Duncan has been trained by instructor Jason primarily in SportStar 712MF.
Way to kick butt, Duncan!
First Solo – Craig Reid
May 25 2016Solo Date: May 24, 2016
Aircraft: Citabria 7ECA
Instructor: Jason Brown & Batelle Rachmian
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Craig completed his first solo flight today in Citabria 9091L. He flew the pattern at Reid-Hillview (KRHV) with his instructor supervising from below, landing on runway 31R.
Craig used to be afraid of G forces but now loves the feeling. He is a geological engineer and starting flying so that he can go places more quickly. He wants to “go see geology where you can’t normally get to.”
First Solo – Samantha D’Costa
May 23 2016Solo Date: May 20, 2016
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Instructor: Jim Grant & Batelle Rachmian
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
We love to see a family of aviators! John D’Costa received his Instrument rating with us about a year ago and passed on his love of aviation to his daughter. Samantha is well on her way to earning flight privileges in her dad’s Cirrus, as she soloed one of our Cessna 172P aircraft on a slightly windy and cloudy Friday afternoon. You’ll often see Samantha studying diligently in our Reid-Hillview classroom with one of her instructors, learning the intricacies of systems, aerodynamics, regulations, and all the details that go into earning a Private Pilot License. How very cool it is to share something you love with someone you love. Kudos to dad and daughter!
Vote in AOPA’s 2016 Flight Training Poll
May 23 2016You trusted us to help you achieve your dream of flying. Now we’d like you to tell us about your flight training experience. We are participating in the AOPA Flight Training Poll and your feedback will help shape the flight training experience for future students.
The AOPA Flight Training Poll is based on extensive research into the optimal flight training experience. Your participation will give you the opportunity to tell us about your experience with us so that we can see how we stack up to the industry. We want to hear it all – the Good, the Bad and the AWESOME!
BONUS! Enter the 2016 Flight Training Poll Sweepstakes!
By participating in the Flight Training Poll, you will be eligible to enter to win on of the sweepstakes prizes provided by Jeppesen, Sport’s, Pilot Workshops and Aircraft Spruce.*
- An Aircraft Spruce $150 Gift Card
- Your choice of a Jeppesen Part 61 Private Pilot or Instrument Pilot Kit
- A Pilot Workshops Real World VFR online course
- Your choice of a Sporty’s Learn to Fly or Instrument Rating online course (two of these will be awarded)
*NO PURCHASE OR REGISTRATION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS SWEEPSTAKES. A PURCHASE OR REGISTRATION WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.
Participation in the poll is not required to enter the sweepstakes. If you don’t want to submit valuable feedback to help the aviation industry and would like to just enter the sweepstakes, you can do so here.
Airplane Camping – Columbia, CA
May 19 2016A gaggle of aviation enthusiasts take to the sky for airplane camping!
AeroDynamic family members departed Reid-Hillview airport on a partly cloudy Saturday for a night of camping, grilling, and stargazing on the grass runway at Columbia Airport (O22). This AeroDynamic tradition started a few years ago with a bunch of adventurous pilots who wanted to fly for more than just the $100 hamburger.
On this trip, 4 taildraggers and 3 Cessna 172s flew in to the grass and paved runways at this 2120′ MSL elevation airport at the base of the Sierra Mountains.
A few of us later hopped in the taildraggers for some showing off…ahem, landing practice…on the grass runway.
With everyone contributing a little something, we grilled chicken, cooked broccoli-cheese rice, and shared wine, beer, cheese, crackers, and chocolate (thanks, Mary). Totally stuffed, we sat around the campfire telling tall pilot tales and heckling each other. Once dark settled in, we walked out to the now-quiet grass runway 29-11 and laid down to stargaze (ok, maybe we did some plane spotting, too).
Instructors, students, and friends woke to the loud squawking of roosters and loud roar of low-flying aircraft – one of which you would expect when your tent is pitched a few hundred feet from a runway. 
Breakfast and coffee happened, then a few of us climbed in our planes for aerobatics, grass landing practice, or sightseeing. After packing up camp, some of us flew out while others walked into the quaint town of Columbia, where you can pan for gold, get a horse-drawn carriage ride, or see a play in this historic town.
Please join us on our next airplane camping adventure (to be announced soon). All are welcome – your plane or ours, with an instructor or solo – and bring family, kids, pets and friends!
First Solo – Ryan Desharnais
May 17 2016Solo Date: May 10, 2016
Aircraft: Evektor SportStar
Instructor: Jason Brown
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Ryan is a drone operator getting his Sport Pilot license in order to fly drones commercially. His instructor, Jason, said he was afraid of flying at first, terrified on his first lesson. Ryan was able to conquer his fear and is now soloing the airplane. We are all inspired by his attitude toward challenges and new-found love of aviation.
Way to go, Ryan!!
FAA Safety – Emergency Bailout
May 12 2016WINGS Seminar
Emergency Bailout
You have just experienced a mid-air collision, a wing is gone and you are spinning towards the ground! You have just seconds to react…what is the first thing you need to do?
Thanks to Master Parachute Rigger, Allen Silver, attendees of our FAA Safety – Emergency Bailout – seminar now have a better understanding of how to correctly don, use, steer, and get out of a parachute once they have bailed out of an aircraft. Allen delighted the crowd with funny anecdotes and sayings. Taking place in the AeroDynamic hangar, Allen gave an interactive presentation including choosing a “victim” to actually deploy a parachute. Thanks to everyone who participated!
 
 
Participants were also treated to our free 2nd Saturday BBQ food. Every second Saturday of the month we cook up hamburgers and hotdogs, and provide snacks all free of charge. It’s a great opportunity to socialize with instructors, staff, owners, and other pilots. Come by next time!
New Private Pilot – Owen Leipelt
May 05 2016Date: May 2, 2016
Instructor: Jason Brown
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Certification: Private Pilot License
Owen is an avid aviation photographer working for Lafferty Aircraft Sales. He just earned his first (of many) pilot licenses – Private Pilot. All your hard work and enthusiasm paid off. Jason and all of us at AeroDynamic are so proud of your accomplishments and look forward to seeing where your pilot career will take you!
Checkout Owen’s amazing video of his journey from newbie to licensed pilot. You can also follow his YouTube channel for new videos as he flies on airplane deliveries and checkout flights in awesome aircraft.
First Solo – Jason Orlic
May 03 2016Solo Date: May 1, 2016
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Instructor: Eric Curtis
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Whoot whoot! Congrats to Jason who soloed Cessna N98485 on a beautful Sunday afternoon at Reid-Hillview. Instructor Eric could not be more happy for you, and a big high five from all the AeroDynamic gang! Onward and upward to your next achievement…Private Pilot License.
