AeroDynamic Aviation

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New Helicopter Pilot – Dick Chang

Jun 26 2011

Schweizer 300

Congratulations to our own AeroDynamic CFI Dick Chang, who added a Rotorcraft-Helicopter rating to his pilot license recently.

Dick trained at Bristow Academy in Concord, flying the Schweizer 300, and then aced his checkride with Examiner Ken Suzuki.

Well done Dick!

New Taildragger Pilot: Jimmy Shih

Jun 18 2011

Jimmy Shih soloes a Citabria at AeroDynamic Aviation

Jimmy soloes

Congratulations to Jimmy Shih who flew a Citabria solo for the first time after being let loose by his instructor Rimas.

Jimmy is already an acomplished pilot, and he wanted to add taildragging to his skills because his next flying ambition is aerobatics.

Go Jimmy!

Going Solo: Stephane Dahan

Jun 03 2011

Another fledgling flies solo! Congratulations to AeroDynamic member Stephane Dahan who is training with CFI Mark Guerrero.

Stephane flew three great takeoffs and landings in a Citabria on his own while Mark watched from the ground. Well done Stephane and Mark!

Another fledgling leaves the nest! Congratulations to Chris Barcelona who soloed Champ 2791E while Blake watched anxiously from the ground. Several excellent takeoffs and landings later Chris was safely back with a gigantic grin on his face.

Well done Chris and Blake.

News: Fly to McClellan and listen to General Chuck Yeager talk!

May 19 2011

It does not happen very often, so when he choses to talk it is worth listening. The legendary pilot and the first man to break the sound barrier is giving a talk in nearby Sacramento, and you can fly in to hear him!

When: Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 2:30 PM

Where: right on McClellan field (MCC)

Aerospace Museum of California
3200 Freedom Park Drive
McClellan, CA 95652

General Yeager will share some of his experiences and how the lessons learned apply to flight safety. Note: This event has a modest cost that includes admission to the museum. Please access the Aerospace Museum of California website http://www.aerospaceca.org for admission cost and other information. To assure seat availability and Wings credit register online at faasafety.gov

To view further details and registration information for this seminar, click here.

And wait, there’s more! This seminar also counts as one credit towards the FAA WINGS Safety program.

Book now, reserve a plane and listen to a living legend!

Going Solo: Zia Syed

May 19 2011

Zia Syed soloes a Citabria at AeroDynamic Aviation

Zia, Rich and N1806G

News from Rich Digrazzi is a first solo for Zia Syed, on May 13th at about 0900. Under a cloudless morning sky, and with the airport maintenance crew performing right next to the runway, Zia completed 3 perfect full-stop landings and made Rich proud!

Going Solo: Robert Kwok

May 19 2011

Congratulations to Robert Kwok who soloed in a Citabria under his CFI’s Dave Gray’s careful supervision. Well done Robert and Dave.

New Private / Sport Pilot Ground School Starting May 18th

Apr 21 2011

The next session of our popular Sport / Private Pilot Ground School starts Wed May 18, 2011.

Classes are held Wednesdays at 6:00 – 9.00 pm.

The ground school covers all the information you will need to fly safely and to pass the knowledge test. Some homework, in the form of extra reading is required.

You can join the class at any point, and continue through the next session, or simply drop in for sessions that interest you.

Cost is $220.00 for the complete course ($20 discount for EAA Members). Materials not included. You will need to buy a Gleim Pilot Kit – $119.95 for Sport and $149.95 for Private.

If you don’t want the whole course, you can drop in for single sessions, at a cost of $20 per session. Licensed pilots who want a refresher are welcome. You can join the class at any point, and continue through the next session.

Click here for more information, enroll and pay online, or call the office on (408) 320-9614 to enroll, or email groundschool@aerodynamicaviation.com

Class Schedule

The schedule may be changed to account for public holidays or changes in the syllabus.

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 9

Week 10

Week 11

Week 12

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15

Aircraft Structure, Flight Controls and Principles

Aerodynamic of Flight

Aircraft Systems

Flight Instruments

Flight manuals, Documents, Weight and Balance

Aircraft Performance

Airport Operations

Airspace, Aeromedical factors

Federal Aviation Rules an regulations – FAR Part 61

Weather Theory

Weather Services, Charts and briefings

Navigation

Radio Navigation, Aeronatical Decision Making (ADM)

X – Country Flight Planning, review, final exam

About the Instructor

Erik Schmidt , CFI, CFII, MEI

Erik began his flying career in US Navy Aviation where his first flight was aerobatics in a T34C. He’s been avoiding straight and level flight ever since. Much of Erik’s flying has been in Alaska and the upper Midwest in a variety of good aircraft and bad weather. Erik received his tailwheel endorsement in a Pitts S2B at the Sean Tucker Aerobatics School, but he also has many hours in Extras, Decathlons and bush planes like the Piper Cub and Cessna 185. In addition, Erik has lots of “Glass Cockpit” experience and is factory certified to teach in Rolls Royce Turbines. Erik loves to instruct and can take you from Private through to Multi-Engine. He will teach you the mechanics and the practical application of theory safely and efficiently.

News: Garmin GTN 650 coming for Cessna 98485

Apr 19 2011

We are installing the new Garmin GTN 650 touch screen WAAS IFR GPS in Cessna 485, and we plan to install them in our other GPS challenged Cessnas over time. The first unit has arrived, we re just waiting for the CDI display and the shop slot. Hopefully 98485 will be done before the start of May.

Garmin GTN 650

What is the GTN 650?

It is Garmin’s replacement for the GNS430W. No more twiddling knobs, everything is accessed from the touch screen! Full WAAS capability including LPV and GPS approaches as well as all the usual ILS/VOR and communications capabilities. So instrument students and instrument rated pilots will not be limited to airports that have an ILS or VOR approach, but virtually any local airport will be open to them.

For example, Salinas has a GPS approach to runway 13 with minimums of 455′ agl and an LPV approach to 31 with a DA of 200′ agl, Hollister has an LPV approach with minimums of just 323′ agl, Reid Hillview LPV 31R minimums are only 379′ AGL)

Of course, VFR pilots can use it too.

There will be a learning curve, so I suggest you start preparing now:

Here’s a link to the Garmin manuals download page.

Here’s a link to Garmin’s training center videos.

I am looking forward to trying it out!

New Pilot: Arnold Failano

Apr 02 2011

Arnold Failano earns Private Pilot license in Cessna 172 N968RC at AeroDynamic Aviation flight training school Salinas California

Arnold Failano Private Pilot

Congratulations to Arnold Failano who joined the ranks of certified pilots after a checkride with Examiner Sherry Diamond in Salinas. Arnold trained with Tom Conklin and Mike Popovitch in a Cessna 172. Well done Arnold, and also thanks to Tom and Mike.

Arnold and Rich, graduates of AeroDynamic Aviation flight training school buy a Cherokee

Cherokee 180

Not only that, but Arnold has bought a Cherokee together with another AeroDynamic graduate, Richard Miller. We wish them both many happy hours of flight in their new airplane!

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