first solo
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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. 😉
First Solo – Wes Hayward
Aug 24 2016Solo Date: August 16, 2016
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Instructor: Carol Tevebaugh
Location: Salinas, CA (KSNS)
Wes completed his first solo flight in our newly painted Cessna 968RC out of Salinas airport despite smoky conditions caused by the Soberanes fire in Big Sur. His flight instructor, Carol, watched proudly as he completed his first series of landings without her onboard. Congrats to them both for their hard work!
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.
First Solo – Adam Lantos
Jun 25 2016Solo Date: June 11, 2016
Aircraft: Citabria 7ECA
Instructor: David Pease
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Like many of us, Adam’s interest in planes started when he was just a kid. And like so many of us, his addiction hit when another AeroDynamic pilot took him for a glider flight and Citabria flight. This led him to an introductory flight in the Cessna and Citabria, but he felt (ahem…correctly) that tailwheel was much more fun.
For right now Adam doesn’t have serious plans for a career in aviation; he just wants the experience of learning a new skill and mastering it. He feels flying the Citabria demands precision and discipline, but also rewards him with a feeling of accomplishment and a stronger pair of legs 🙂
Once the hard work of earning his Private Pilot’s License is out of the way, Adam plans to explore, have the perspective from above (watching all the little people stuck in traffic), and go to various places. Eventually he plans to continue his training to include some basic aerobatics, mountain flying lessons, and maybe take up IFR when he decides to venture out of California and travel farther afield.
From all of us aviation addicts – way to go and keep up the hard work, Adam!
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 😉
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 – Craig Reid
May 25 2016Solo Date: May 24, 2016
Aircraft: Citabria 7ECA
Instructor: Jason Brown & Batelle Rachmian
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Craig completed his first solo flight today in Citabria 9091L. He flew the pattern at Reid-Hillview (KRHV) with his instructor supervising from below, landing on runway 31R.
Craig used to be afraid of G forces but now loves the feeling. He is a geological engineer and starting flying so that he can go places more quickly. He wants to “go see geology where you can’t normally get to.”
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!
First Solo – Ryan Desharnais
May 17 2016Solo Date: May 10, 2016
Aircraft: Evektor SportStar
Instructor: Jason Brown
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Ryan is a drone operator getting his Sport Pilot license in order to fly drones commercially. His instructor, Jason, said he was afraid of flying at first, terrified on his first lesson. Ryan was able to conquer his fear and is now soloing the airplane. We are all inspired by his attitude toward challenges and new-found love of aviation.
Way to go, Ryan!!