Flight Training
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New Classroom at Reid-Hillview
Oct 27 2016
After years of tireless dedication, not just to aviation but to the many students he’s taught over the years, Larry Reed finally has the classroom of his dreams. We are honored to have such an accomplished ground instructor. Thanks for all your hard work, Larry.
A bit about the man…
Larry is a CFI, CFII, MEI, AGI, IGI, and has a BS in Professional Aeronautics from Embry Riddle. Wow! Larry had his first airplane ride at six, and he has loved airplanes and flying since including building and flying model airplanes, being an aircrew man in the US Navy, flying in radar-equipped Super Constellations (EC121K) and P3A Orion antisubmarine aircraft. 
In parallel with Larry’s 50 year career in Electronics and Aerospace he obtained his Pilot and Instructor certificates and ratings beginning in 1964 as a student pilot, at the Navy Memphis flying club, soloed at Reid Hillview Airport in 1966, became a Certified Flight Instructor in 1977, also at Reid Hillview. Larry learned aerobatics in 1978, taught in taildraggers and tricycle-geared airplanes at AeroDynamic Aviation (formerly Amelia Reid Aviation) and other flight schools since 1977. Larry began teaching ground school to his flight students in his garage thirty-five years ago. Twenty five years ago, he started a ground school for EAA Chapter 62 and has been teaching the Private Pilot Ground School almost continuously, to the present. He has been teaching at Amelia Reid/AeroDynamic Aviation for about twelve years. Larry teaches quality aviation classes that prepare students to safely pilot an airplane, and to pass the knowledge exam. He has taught hundreds of students in the past thirty five years.
New Commercial Pilot – Gordon Landale
Oct 17 2016Date: October 23, 2016
Instructor: Jen Delp-Mallet
Location: Monterey, CA (KMRY)
Certification: Commercial ASEL
Look at that smile! Gordon completed his Commercial Airplane Single-Engine Land pilot certificate on a blustery Friday afternoon with Designated Pilot Examiner Eric Cook out of Paso Robles. After nailing Eights-on-Pylons and the infamous Power-off 180, Gordon is now able to fly for hire! In fact, we just hired him to fly tours out of Monterey 🙂
Congrats on all your hard work. Now…on to the CFI!
First Solo – Hajime Sammoto
Oct 13 2016Solo Date: October 7, 2016
Aircraft: Citabria 7ECA
Instructor: Batelle Rachmian
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
As a historic flight school, we love our traditions, especially when they involve tailwheel aircraft! Flight Instructor Batelle cuts the tails off her tailwheel student’s shirt after his first solo flight in a Citabria. Hajime hails from Japan and has been training with us since late August for his Private Pilot Certificate. Jumping the hurdles of becoming proficient in English and Aviation languages, he progressed quickly and now moves on to the cross-country and checkride prep phase of training. Congrats to Hajime for taming the taildragger and Batelle for all her hard work!
“In American aviation lore, the traditional removal of a new pilot’s shirt tail is a sign of the instructor’s new confidence in his student after successful completion of the first solo flight. In the days of tandem trainers, the student sat in the front seat, with the instructor behind. As there were often no radios in these early days of aviation, the instructor would tug on the student pilot’s shirttail to get his attention, and then yell in his ear. A successful first solo flight is an indication that the student can fly without the instructor (“instructor-less” flight). Hence, there is no longer a need for the shirt tail, and it is cut off by the (often) proud instructor, and sometimes displayed as a trophy.” – Rod Machado (who also trained with us!)
New Commercial Drone Pilot – Tom Morley
Sep 26 2016
Another of AeroDynamic’s instructors and summer-time agriculture pilot, Tom Morely, earned his Small UAV operator’s certification on September 20th. There’s isn’t much he can’t fly. Way to add another notch in the belt, Tom!
For more information on how to obtain this certificate, please visit our webpage on UAV/drone licensing – click here.
New Multi-Engine Pilot – Qi Liu
Sep 26 2016Date: September 23, 2016
Instructor: Ron Vlastelica
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Certification: Multi-Engine Rating
Qi Liu came to us as an instrument-rated private pilot who owns and flies how own Bonanza A36. With just over 200 hours of flight time already, plus complex and high performance endorsements, Qi took to our Piper Twin Comanche easily under the guidance of his CFI Ron. His training included engine shutdowns and restarts, single-engine instrument approaches, stall recognition and recovery, and much more to add a multi-engine rating to his private pilot certificate with examiner Yuzo Wakita. Congrats to Qi and we thank him for training with us!
New Private Pilot – Richard Lee
Sep 03 2016Date: August 29, 2016
Instructor: Jason Brown
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Certification: Private Pilot License
Starting early Monday morning, Richard met with Reid-Hillview examiner Yuzo Wakita for the Private Pilot checkride. Having spent a great deal of time studying and preparing for the practical test, he was in and out of his checkride in record time, passing with flying colors! Well done to both Richard and his instructor Jason. Richard has since been seen sharing his passion for flying – taking the people in his life out for flights around the bay. That’s what it’s all about 🙂
“After 5 months of training with Jason, I’ve finally crossed flying off my bucket list. I’m very excited and looking forward to a lot of fun piloting to come in California as a hobby. Until then, who knows where life will take me.” – Richard
Cirrus Checkout – Ryan Radcliff
Sep 01 2016
He’s drinking the Kool-Aid! Former Cirrus-pilot-turned-Bonanza-owner and Commercial pilot Ryan Radcliff recently came to Monterey while his Bonanza BE36TC is in the shop for paint and annual. Ryan reacquainted himself with the SR20 and transitioned to the new Garmin Perspective. His plans include a flight to Catalina and maybe a few hops over to his condo in Mammoth. Have fun!
New Sport Pilot – Deirdre Smith
Sep 01 2016Date: August 22, 2016
Instructor: David Waksberg
Location: Lincoln, CA (KLHM)
Certification: Sport Pilot License
Congrats to Deirdre and instructor David for a first-time pass on her Sport Pilot checkride!!! Deirdre flew to Lincoln airport for her practical test with examiner Jim Hensen. Despite the unfamiliar area, Deirdre navigated her way through the cross-country, diversion, and maneuvers with no problems. Welcome to the family!
First Solo – Nick Gronendyke
Aug 27 2016Solo Date: August 25, 2016
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Instructor: Jason Brown
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Another young solo pilot takes to the skies! On Thursday, 17-year-old Nick fulfilled not just his dream of flying, but with Dad and Uncle watching, he also fulfilled their dream. Nick’s father always wanted to learn to fly, but his son is recognizing this dream for both of them. 
After reaching this benchmark of solo, Nick will continue on to earn his Private Pilot’s license. He eventually wants to go to an aviation college and fly professionally. We are so honored to be part of his flying journey! Congrats to Nick and CFI Jason for their hard work!
First Solo – Edan Ben Moshe
Aug 25 2016Solo Date: August 23, 2016
Aircraft: Citabria 7ECA
Instructor: Jen Delp-Mallet
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Living the dream! At only 16 years old, Edan became one of the elite young solo pilots, and he did it right…in a taildragger! 
Edan’s father, who received his instrument rating with Jen Delp-Mallet in his Diamond Star DA40, and his mother watched and snapped photos from Row P with his proud instructor as Edan took to the evening sky off runway 31R at Reid-Hillview airport. Winds were mostly down the runway at 10 knots, sunset approaching on the horizon, and light traffic in the pattern. Edan’s first comment to his instructor? “I didn’t know the tail would be so light without you back there,” followed by “and I kept looking at the backseat, like there’s really no one there?!”
Edan turns 17 in a few months, so we wish him luck with finishing up his Private Pilot’s license just after his birthday. As long as he does school and flight training homework on time, he should meet this goal and be on to borrowing Dad’s plane in no time. 😉