Cessna 172
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First Solo Flight – Prashant Saxena
Jun 05 2018Congrats to CFI David and student pilot Prashant on a fun first solo! We love helping dreams come true, and seeing someone achieve their flying goals is just the most amazing thing for us. We could tell you more, but Prashant took an awesome video to share his first solo flight experience!
Aircraft: Cessna N12234
Solo Date: June 3, 2018
Instructor: David Waksberg
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
First Solo Flight – Prad Kikkeri
May 16 2018Aircraft: Cessna N915L
Solo Date: May 13, 2018
Instructor: Travis Mills
Location: San Martin, CA (E16)
Congrats to our Reid-Hillview student Prad, who flew 3 laps in left closed traffic for Runway 14 at San Martin!
“My family noticed my interest in aviation when I was 2 years old, and thanks to the local air & space museum near where I grew up in Colorado, I had already learned how to set up flights in Microsoft Flight Simulator by the time I was 4. My love for flying has never diminished to this day. I got my first taste of private flying in high school, when a friend of mine got his PPL and took me on a couple of cross-country flights to neighboring states. The sense of pure freedom was incredible! When I moved out to the Bay Area, I stopped by AeroDynamic Aviation to take a tour, and everyone was so friendly and energetic and eager to help me make my lifelong dream come true. After my PPL, Iād like to get my instrument, commercial, and multi-engine ratings and be a CFI on the side so that I may teach share my passion for aviation with others.” ~Prad
New Private Pilot – Peng Xue
May 16 2018Date: May 3, 2018
Certification: Private Pilot
Instructor: Batelle Rachmian
Aircraft: Cessna N61637
“I’ve been wanting to fly since I was a child, and now my my long-time dream has finally come true. My goal is to have fun flying and enjoy the freedom š Thanks to everyone at AeroDynamic, especially my awesome flight instructor Batelle, who guided me through my training.” ~Peng
Congrats on a job well done, Peng and Batelle!
New Private Pilot – Thao Do
May 15 2018Date: May 9, 2018
Certification: Private Pilot
Instructor: All of Us!
Aircraft: Cessna N915L
For Thao’s birthday in 2015, her brother gave her a gift certificate to fly aerobatics at Aerodynamic Aviation with Chief Instructor Jen. It was the greatest experience of her life. Jen took her up in the Decathlon 8KCAB and they flew aerobatic maneuvers like hammerheads, Cuban 8, Shark’s Tooth, Humpty-Bumpty, barrel rolls, stalls, and spins. She even taught Thao how to perform a loop. Thao was hooked. Thao returned to AeroDynamic as a student pilot and has “flown” through her training like a women possessed by aviation. As icing on the cake, just after her checkride in Salinas,Ā Thao met her idol – airshow performer Sean Tucker. What a way to finish up her license! Thao is already continuing on to earn her ground instructor certificates. We hope she will come teach for us one day š
First Solo Flight – Sergei Pichugin
Apr 11 2018Ā Aircraft: N61637
Instructor: Batelle Rachmian
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Solo Date: April 4, 2018
“When I was a kid, I was building small aircraft models. Building these models and controlling them from the ground was really interesting and exciting, but my real dream was to become a pilot someday and fly a real airplane. Finally I achieved my dream here at AeroDynamic, and I made my first solo flight in a Cessna 172, making 2 takeoffs and 2 landings. Many thanks to my instructor – Batelle. I’m looking forward to getting the private pilot license and flying across the country (maybe other countries) discovering new places.” ~Sergei
So cool! Keep up the hardwork!
First Solo Flight – Alex Poklewski
Apr 09 2018Aircraft: Cessna N98485
Instructor: David Waksberg
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Solo Date: April 4, 2018
“I have always been interested in flying, since I was a child. For my brithday a few years ago, my father-in-law bought me a ticket to go on a “bay tour” style flight out of San Carlos, where you are along for the ride and the pilot allows you to handle the controls for a few seconds. That flight got me hooked, and I realized that my desire to fly is as strong as ever. So, I decided that it’s definitely time to earn my Private Pilot License, and I’m very happy to be working with David and AeroDynamic to make it happen! While I do wish I started flying much earlier in life, I’m thankful to have the opportunity to do it now and am loving every minute of it. I look forward to sharing my love of flying with my kids and family, and being able to explore all the great possible destinations that will be within reach of a private plane.” ~Alex
Thanks for flying with us!
First Solo Flight – Matthew Tripp
Mar 29 2018Aircraft: Cessna N54102
Instructor: Logan and Adam
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Solo Date: March 28, 2018
After a few weeks of rainy weather, Matthew was finally able to make his first solo takeoffs and landings on a gorgeous day at Reid-Hillview airport. With his instructor looking on, Matthew flew 3 solo laps around the pattern for landings on 31 Right and 31 Left. After solo, time flies (we mean that literally) and suddenly the Private Pilot checkride is happening. We are rooting for you!
New Private Pilot – Adam Shapiro
Dec 31 2017Date: December 29, 2017
Certification: PrivateĀ Pilot
Instructor: Jamie Redding
What were you doing on your 17th birthday? Very few people could answer that they were taking the checkride for their Private Pilot License, let alone doing so well they impressed the FAA examiner. But that is exactly what 17-year-old Adam did last Friday. What an incredible achievement for one so young. We are happy to have been able to give you your first set of wings, Adam, and wish you so much luck in life.
Examiner: Eric Cook
Aircraft: Cessna N62244
Checkride Location:
Monterey, CA (KMRY)
New Private Pilot – Taylor Donato
Dec 27 2017Date: December 23, 2017
Certification: PrivateĀ Pilot
AeroDynamic’s own Taylor D. earned a first-time pass on his Private Pilot checkride! Taylor typically works in our San Jose office on Saturdays, so make sure you congratulate him on this hard-earned achievement. Next on his New Year’s Resolution list is to fly for fun on a few cross-countries. After that little break, he will continue training for his Instrument Rating. Taylor has flown with just about every instructor we have, but it was Chris Compos who encouraged him over the finish line. Well done, guys!
Examiner: Scott Rohlfing
Aircraft: Cessna N54102
Checkride Location:
San Jose, CA (KRHV)
New Private Pilot – Annie Pepper
Dec 14 2017Date: December 1, 2017
Certification: PrivateĀ Pilot
We’ve converted another helicopter pilot! Annie is a very accomplished rotor wing pilot and instructor. We hope one day soon she will be teaching for us. She is well on her way! After soloing in an airplane just recently, she completed her requirements and earned a first-time pass on her Airplane Private Pilot checkride. Next up is Airplane Instrument, Commercial and then Instructor. On top of all this, she is a full-time law student with internships and she occasionally fills in at our office. You are amazing, Annie!