Cessna 172
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First Solo – Sheryl Martin
Jul 14 2016Solo Date: June 30, 2016
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Instructor: Ron Vlastelica
Location: New Jerusalem, CA (1Q4)
Sheryl Martin flew her first solo at New Jerusalem airport, her second at San Martin airport (E16) and her third at her primary training airport, Reid-Hillview. She began training with Ron in her Cessna 172 with 180-hp.
Sheryl moves to Auburn in a few days but plans to continue her flight training with us, moving into cross-country training and checkride prep. Her instructor says she has done a great job with studying and made fast progress.
New Private Pilot – Paul Cain
Jun 23 2016Date: June 23, 2016
Instructor: Jamie Redding
Location: Monterey, CA (KMRY)
Certification: Private Pilot License
Woooohooooo! Way to go! Paul Cain finished his training and earned his Private Pilot License today in one of our Monterey Cessna 172s. Examiner Yuzo Wakita put him through his paces, but Paul’s hard work and studying paid off with a first-time pass of his checkride. Instructor Jamie and the rest of us couldn’t be more proud of his accomplishment. See you in the air!
First Solo – Richard Lee
Jun 23 2016Solo Date: June 22, 2016
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Instructor: Jason Brown
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
On a warm, calm summer morning, Richard, who comes to us from Vancouver, B.C., left his instructor Jason on the ground at Reid-Hillview airport to take to the skies for his first solo flight. Little did he know that tower would fly a pipeline helicopter right under his final approach path to runway 31R! Keeping his cool, Richard maneuvered over the helicopter and settled gently onto the runway. Flying is constant learning and experience, so congrats on handling the challenges aviation introduces.
P.S. He is a Canucks fan, but we don’t hold that against him 😉
New Private Pilot – Dan Aguirre
Jun 20 2016Date: June 10, 2016
Instructor: Coby Sena
Location: San Martin, CA (E16)
Certification: Private Pilot License
Under the careful tutelage of Instructor Coby, Dan recently became a licensed private pilot! His checkride took place at San Martin airport, near Gilroy and Morgan Hill, with examiner Eric Cook. Dan plans to continue his flight training to become an airline pilot one day soon. He tackled this first step and is now on to earning an Instrument Rating!
First Solo – Paul Weller
Jun 06 2016Solo Date: May 31, 2016
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Instructor: Jamie Redding
Location: Monterey, CA (KMRY)
Paul grew up in the backseat of his father’s C190 and later Navion. He started his private pilot training 20 years ago, but discontinued due to life events. Now retired, Paul plans to finish his Private Pilot License, get his glider rating, as well as maintain currency flying a Cessna 172. He flies because it’s fun!
First Solo – Samantha D’Costa
May 23 2016Solo Date: May 20, 2016
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Instructor: Jim Grant & Batelle Rachmian
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
We love to see a family of aviators! John D’Costa received his Instrument rating with us about a year ago and passed on his love of aviation to his daughter. Samantha is well on her way to earning flight privileges in her dad’s Cirrus, as she soloed one of our Cessna 172P aircraft on a slightly windy and cloudy Friday afternoon. You’ll often see Samantha studying diligently in our Reid-Hillview classroom with one of her instructors, learning the intricacies of systems, aerodynamics, regulations, and all the details that go into earning a Private Pilot License. How very cool it is to share something you love with someone you love. Kudos to dad and daughter!
Airplane Camping – Columbia, CA
May 19 2016A gaggle of aviation enthusiasts take to the sky for airplane camping!
AeroDynamic family members departed Reid-Hillview airport on a partly cloudy Saturday for a night of camping, grilling, and stargazing on the grass runway at Columbia Airport (O22). This AeroDynamic tradition started a few years ago with a bunch of adventurous pilots who wanted to fly for more than just the $100 hamburger.
On this trip, 4 taildraggers and 3 Cessna 172s flew in to the grass and paved runways at this 2120′ MSL elevation airport at the base of the Sierra Mountains.
A few of us later hopped in the taildraggers for some showing off…ahem, landing practice…on the grass runway.
With everyone contributing a little something, we grilled chicken, cooked broccoli-cheese rice, and shared wine, beer, cheese, crackers, and chocolate (thanks, Mary). Totally stuffed, we sat around the campfire telling tall pilot tales and heckling each other. Once dark settled in, we walked out to the now-quiet grass runway 29-11 and laid down to stargaze (ok, maybe we did some plane spotting, too).
Instructors, students, and friends woke to the loud squawking of roosters and loud roar of low-flying aircraft – one of which you would expect when your tent is pitched a few hundred feet from a runway. 
Breakfast and coffee happened, then a few of us climbed in our planes for aerobatics, grass landing practice, or sightseeing. After packing up camp, some of us flew out while others walked into the quaint town of Columbia, where you can pan for gold, get a horse-drawn carriage ride, or see a play in this historic town.
Please join us on our next airplane camping adventure (to be announced soon). All are welcome – your plane or ours, with an instructor or solo – and bring family, kids, pets and friends!
New Private Pilot – Owen Leipelt
May 05 2016Date: May 2, 2016
Instructor: Jason Brown
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Certification: Private Pilot License
Owen is an avid aviation photographer working for Lafferty Aircraft Sales. He just earned his first (of many) pilot licenses – Private Pilot. All your hard work and enthusiasm paid off. Jason and all of us at AeroDynamic are so proud of your accomplishments and look forward to seeing where your pilot career will take you!
Checkout Owen’s amazing video of his journey from newbie to licensed pilot. You can also follow his YouTube channel for new videos as he flies on airplane deliveries and checkout flights in awesome aircraft.
First Solo – Jason Orlic
May 03 2016Solo Date: May 1, 2016
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Instructor: Eric Curtis
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Whoot whoot! Congrats to Jason who soloed Cessna N98485 on a beautful Sunday afternoon at Reid-Hillview. Instructor Eric could not be more happy for you, and a big high five from all the AeroDynamic gang! Onward and upward to your next achievement…Private Pilot License.
Cessna Restoration – The New N968RC
Apr 19 2016Our Salinas-based Cessna gets a makeover!
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- Stripped & prepped
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- A few coats later…
and here is the new and improved Cessna 968RC!
Thanks to Potts Painting in Salinas and Jeff at San Jose Fuel for putting in so much effort to make this plane look amazing. Thanks to our renters and students for their patience while we upgrade our fleet. Cessna 8RC is back in Salinas and available starting today!