Welcome to three pilots from Spain! Marco Fuente, Arkaitz de Sebastian and Gotzon Joyera are pilots from the Basque region of Spain who came to fly taildgraggers with us.

Congratulations to Mark Ledwith who passed his Sport Pilot flight test in the Evektor Sportstar 811EV and is now a fully certified pilot. Well done Mark.

A warm welcome to Pau Baltrons who came to get his tailwheel endorsement and build tailwheel time. Despite the weather he’s already managed to earn the endorsement. Well done Pau!

Flying Companion / Pinch Hitter course planned. We are planning a Pinch Hitter course for your non pilot flying companions. This is a day (around 6 hrs) of ground school based on the AOPA Air Safety Foundation’s Pinch Hitter course. Assuming we get a good response, the training will take place on Saturday Jan 30th and cost $99 for the day.
The instructor will be Patrik Rosenast, one of our more experienced CFIs, who also holds an ATP, jet type ratings, and Airframe and Powerplant mechanic’s certificate and flies both coprporate jets and small taildraggers and everything in between.
Please email if interested, or call the office on 408 251 4939
Participants will also be entitled to a discount on a course of flight training.

Congratulations to Paul Cianci for scoring 95% on his Instrument Rating knowledge test. Said Paul: “Thanks Erik for a great instrument ground school!”

Well done to André Boulé who checked out in the Evektor SportStar!

Congratulations to Jan Johnson who added a tailwheel endorsement in Citabria 53893!

Two brothers soloed on two successive days! Dmitry Nikonchuk soloed Cessna 61637 and Kirill Nikonchuk soloed Cesna 9668Q. Congratulations to both and to their instructors.

Here’s Dmitry with his CFI Mark Guerrero after his flight:

and below, Kirill having his shirttails cut off by CFI Adam Marsh after his first solo:

From the “Where are they now?” department. David Gilmer is flying a Twin Otter in Chad for Air Serv International.

The distinction of the first pilot license in 2010 goes to Jos Peijnenburg, who successfully passed his Private Pilot checkride after flight training with CFI Kyle Cooper. Congratulations to Jos and Kyle for a job very well done.

We have the first fledgling of 2010! Congratulations to Ron Knapel who soloed Sportstar 811EV. Well done Ron and CFI Jim Grant.

This is what happens to your shirt after you solo!