Jen
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New Private Pilot – Shawn Nikkila
Mar 31 2017Date: March 29, 2017
Instructor: Jason Brown
Certification: Private Pilot
Whoot Whoot! Congrats to AeroDynamic’s newest tailwheel pilot! With a family of pilots, Shawn earned his wings and plans to fly for fun in his dad’s Cessna 120, another fun taildragger. Shawn soloed in Citabria 990wY with us in November and passed his checkride in Citabria 1806G just a few days ago. He flew to Calaveras Airport, at the base of the Sierra Mountains, to take his checkride with tailwheel examiner Rob Davids. And he passed with flying colors! Congrats to both Shawn and Jason for this achievement. Happy flying!
Examiner: Rob Davids
Aircraft: Citabria N1806
Checkride Location:
Calaveras, CA (KCPU)
First Solo Flight – Kelsie Zhao
Mar 10 2017Solo Date: March 6, 2017
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Instructor: Batelle Rachmian
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Congrats to Kelsie and her instructor Batelle for this momumental achievement in pilot training. In her own words, “Reason into aviation: Aeronautics major; didn’t get to design an airplane so think I probably should fly one 🙂
Like the idea of just me and beautiful view outside, more or less inspired by the book West with the Night.”
It’s looking to be a banner year for Cessna 61637! This Cessna 172M takes yet another student pilot, Kelsie, on her first solo flight around Reid-Hillview Airport’s traffic pattern. Soon this beloved airplane will also add Kelsie to her distinguished list of pilots who have earned their pilot wings in her white, red and gray airframe.
New Multi-Engine Pilot – JP O’Dell
Mar 09 2017Date: March 3, 2017
Instructor: Jen Delp-Mallet
Certification: Multi-Engine Private Pilot
After recently earning his instrument rating with us, Monterey-based pilot JP O’Dell mastered our Twin Comanche in just 12 short hours and passed his checkride on the first attempt! Despite being a full-time student and avid athlete, JP made time to study the Twin Comanche’s systems, emergencies, and engine-inop procedures. JP plans to continue on to a career in aviation (hopefully becoming a CFI for us), but for now the lucky 19-year-old has access to fly a Beechcraft Baron for a number of hours while he works toward his Commercial Pilot License.
Try to avoid shutting down an engine anytime soon, and we will see you in a few months for that next pilot certification.
Examiner: Yuzo Wakita
Aircraft: Twin Comanche N40DA
Checkride Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Image: Right engine shutdown (feathered) in flight.
First Solo Flight – Henrique Rodrigues
Mar 06 2017Solo Date: February 25, 2017
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Instructor: Eric Curtis
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
We love seeing fledgling pilots leave the nest and soar around the airport patch. AeroDynamic sends a big “way to go” to Henrique and his instructor Eric for this first adventure flying an airplane solo. Henrique took Cessna 61637 off Runway 31R for 3 full-stop takeoffs and landings with Eric watching carefully from the sidelines. Next up…cross-country flight training, more solos, and then checkride preparation. Have fun!
First Solo Flight – Dmitriy Kosovskiy
Mar 06 2017Solo Date: February 23, 2017
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Instructor: David Waksberg
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
When one teaches as much as David Waksberg, it makes sense he would have fun traditions for soloing his students. Student pilot Dmitriy experienced first-hand the bucket-o-water after his first solo flight at Reid-Hillview Airport! While we don’t condone wet T-shirt contests ;-), we do enjoy hanging solo shirts on our office wall for a time, even if they are dripping wet.
Go, Dmitriy, go!
New Private Pilot – Matt Fall
Feb 27 2017Date: February 24, 2017
Instructor: Tom Morley
Certification: Private Pilot
AeroDynamic’s office manager, Matt, receives the first of his pilot certifications with a first-time pass of his Private Pilot checkride! Matt has flown with almost all the instructor’s we have in an effort to round out his flight training, which gave him a boost of confidence for the checkride, and we are so proud to see him succeed.
Matt’s first planned flight is to take his girlfriend on a few cross-country trips to show her why he’s so passionate about aviation. A date flight to Harris Ranch should do the trick! Matt plans to continue on with Instrument rating, Commercial and Flight Instructor (CFI) certifications in his pursuit of a career with an airline or corporate company. Thanks for all your hard work in and out of the airplane, Matt. From all of us, congratulations!!!
Examiner: Yuzo Wakita
Aircraft: Cessna N61637
Checkride Location:
San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Follow us on Social Media
Feb 22 2017Like anyone, we love our social media!
Did you know you can post your ForeFlight routes on Facebook and then tag us @aerodynamic or @flyaerodynamic? If you have cool videos you’d like us to post to YouTube, we can do that as well. We’ve recently moved our Twitter account from @goodflying. For those of you who follow us or want to follow us, we are now at @flyaerodynamic.
We also have a **new** newsletter coming out once a month with upcoming events, seminars, articles, scholarships, local news, and more. Watch for the first issue to hit your inbox on March 1st!
To Like or Follow Us on social media, click on the links below:
Facebook (@aerodynamic)
Instagram (@aerodynamicaviation)
First Solo Flight – Elliot Young
Feb 17 2017Solo Date: February 15, 2017
Aircraft: Citabria 7ECA
Instructor: Batelle Rachmian
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Thanks to this unusual weather California is experiencing, student pilot Elliot Young patiently waited over a month to finally take his first solo flight. Some things are worth the wait, like the first time you takeoff in a taildragger without an instructor in the backseat. At first the quietness, there’s no instructor shouting “more right rudder!” from behind you, then the taste of freedom as you realize it’s really just you and your flying machine, and finally the exhilaration as you bring that airplane in for landing…ALL…BY…YOURSELF! Congrats on this amazing accomplishment to both Elliot and Batelle.
New Multi-Engine Pilot – Reid Raisanen
Feb 16 2017Date: February 14, 2017
Instructor: David Waksberg
Certification: Multi-engine Commercial Pilot
Guess what Reid was up to this Valentine’s Day? Earning a first-time checkride pass…multi-engine add-on to Commercial Pilot Certificate! Reid is a flight instructor at another great flight school in the Bay Area, and he came to AeroDynamic to fly our Twin Comanche with Instructor David. Congrats to them both on this hard-earned rating. Thanks for flying with us and have fun at the airlines!
“I started flying at 16 in Minnesota and since the economy improved, picked it up again seriously at 26. Since I have all requirements for ATP but multi, I asked around SCFC, where I instruct, for a recommendation. I learned about David and Aerodynamic, flew until it was done. People were friendly, the location was solid, and the airplane was maintained well. Next I will continue the airline interview process. Hope the economy stays strong!” ~ Reid
Examiner: Yuzo Wakita
Aircraft: Twin Comanche N40DA
Checkride Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
New Private Pilot – Stanley Cheng
Feb 15 2017Date: February 13, 2017
Instructor: Jen Delp-Mallet
Certification: Private Pilot
From all the instructors who know and flew with Stanley – we are so proud of your dedication to earning your first pilot license!
Stanley was originally accepted into the pilot program in China, where he grew up, and was sadly denied after a minor issue with his vision. After moving to the US many years ago, he decided to fulfill his dream of becoming a pilot. In America it is easy to take for granted the fact that we can choose to become a pilot or fly for fun. After hearing Stanley’s story and getting to know him, we are reminded how lucky we are to be able to fly whenever we want and how lucky we are to be able to train a hard-working person who is so passionate about flying. Thanks, Stanley!