First Solo Flight
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First Solo Flight – Mikhail Mikhaylov
Jan 24 2020Solo Date: January 18, 2020
Aircraft: Citabria N990WY
Instructor: Batelle Waksberg
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
“I remember being interested in airplanes since I was a young kid. My grandpa would take me to UWGG/GOJ and we would watch planes land, taxi and take off. When not at the airport, the aviation would turn my head up with windows-rattling sonic booms coming from silver tips of bright white contrails. As life went on, flying remained just a dream. I want to think that now is a great time to finally live it.” ~Mikhail
First Solo Flight – Lukasz Weber
Dec 19 2019Solo Date: December 16, 2019
Aircraft: Cessna N61637
Instructor: Cheryl Mitrus
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
“Airplanes have always been my passion, maybe it’s my Polish childhood, where the impact of WWII can still be strongly felt in contrast to the freedom of flight. Ever since, I’ve been building airplane models, plastic, then RC. Particularly interested in propeller driven WWII machines, I’ve been flying models, simulators, wing suits, and generally trying to fly in some very indirect ways. Now, inspired by my friends, and the fact that my work is moving offices next to an airport, I figured, enough waiting. I’m looking forward to flying regularly to work (and try to beat the peninsula traffic) and to the various skydiving drop zones around California on the weekends! I’m so excited to fly for real!” ~Lukasz
First Solo Flight – Matt Cole
Nov 20 2019Solo Date: November 3, 2019
Aircraft: Citabria N2508Z
Instructor: Scott Holland
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
“My grandfather is one of my life mentors and some of my best memories growing up are of listening to his stories about flying an A-20 during WWII and the Korean War. For me, it has always been a life goal to become a pilot and to share that skill with my grandfather. Before he passed last March, I was able to tell him that I had begun training to become a Pilot. I’m excited to have gotten to this milestone and my wife and I are starting to plan out where we will fly after my training is finished.” ~Matt
First Solo Flight – Kaleo Clissold
Sep 25 2019Solo Date: September 21, 2019
Aircraft: Cessna – N62244
Instructor: Ben Khader
Location: Monterey, CA (KMRY)
“June this year I had a amazing opportunity that opened up to me to pursue aviation as part of my carrier in law enforcement. This had never even been a thought in my mind until now. I have always been mesmerized by flight but never in my dreams did I think I would actually do it. To my amazement I have now been blessed to have just completed my first solo flight in my pursuit of commercial aspersions. Thank you Ben Khader and Aerodynamic Aviation for making this dream a reality.” ~Kaleo
First Solo Flight – Alex Ambrose
Aug 28 2019Solo Date: August 14, 2019
Aircraft: Cessna – N12234
Instructor: Kat Hanlon & Cheryl Mitrus
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
“I’ve been working next to San Carlos airport for the last few years, so aviation had been on my mind. I took a discovery flight earlier this year and got hooked. As for future plans – having fun, meeting new people, and exploring new places!” ~ Alex
First Solo Flight – Joe Streeper
Jul 27 2019Solo Date: June 23, 2019
Aircraft: Cessna – N98485
Instructor: Kat Hanlon
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
“I’ve been around planes and airports my whole life, and have always loved the idea of flying. When I turned 50 recently, I decided it was finally time for me to be the one in the cockpit.” ~Joe
Congrats on reaching the big milestone!
First Solo Flight – Sean Batac
Jul 27 2019Solo Date: June 21, 2019
Aircraft: Cessna – N61637
Instructor: Travis Mills
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Congrats to Sean on taking his first solo flight!
First Solo Flight – Kent Harrison
Jul 17 2019Solo Date: July 14, 2019
Aircraft: SportStar – N712MF
Instructor: Sergey Kataev
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Congrats to Kent and instructor Sergey! Kent grew up flying with his dad, a professional airshow performer, and figured it was finally time to do it on his own. We agree it’s much more fun to be the one at the controls 😉 Kent is looking forward to finally getting his sport license. Onward and upward!
First Solo Flight – Joshua Shinavier
Jun 18 2019Solo Date: June 1, 2019
Aircraft: Citabria – N2508Z
Instructor: Scott Holland
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
“I am an engineer at Uber, where I build the company’s knowledge graph. When I was little, I built flying contraptions. I would put a board across my shoulders like a wing and run really fast, or make spinning rotors which, unfortunately, did not produce enough lift to heft me into the sky. It took me a long time to climb into the cockpit of a real flying machine, but it has been a dream come true. I can’t wait for my first cross-countries.”
First Solo Flight – Ivan Zarate
May 29 2019Solo Date: May 8, 2019
Aircraft: Cessna 172 – N54102
Instructors: Travis Mills
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
“Growing up, I would see the Blue Angels fly by my house during the Salinas Airshow and I would wonder how fun it would be to fly an airplane. As it turns out it is much more exciting than I have ever imagine.” ~ Ivan
Congrats on your first solo!