private pilot
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New Multi-Engine Pilot – JP O’Dell
Mar 09 2017Date: March 3, 2017
Instructor: Jen Delp-Mallet
Certification: Multi-Engine Private Pilot
After recently earning his instrument rating with us, Monterey-based pilot JP O’Dell mastered our Twin Comanche in just 12 short hours and passed his checkride on the first attempt! Despite being a full-time student and avid athlete, JP made time to study the Twin Comanche’s systems, emergencies, and engine-inop procedures. JP plans to continue on to a career in aviation (hopefully becoming a CFI for us), but for now the lucky 19-year-old has access to fly a Beechcraft Baron for a number of hours while he works toward his Commercial Pilot License.
Try to avoid shutting down an engine anytime soon, and we will see you in a few months for that next pilot certification.
Examiner: Yuzo Wakita
Aircraft: Twin Comanche N40DA
Checkride Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Image: Right engine shutdown (feathered) in flight.
New Private Pilot – Matt Fall
Feb 27 2017Date: February 24, 2017
Instructor: Tom Morley
Certification: Private Pilot
AeroDynamic’s office manager, Matt, receives the first of his pilot certifications with a first-time pass of his Private Pilot checkride! Matt has flown with almost all the instructor’s we have in an effort to round out his flight training, which gave him a boost of confidence for the checkride, and we are so proud to see him succeed.
Matt’s first planned flight is to take his girlfriend on a few cross-country trips to show her why he’s so passionate about aviation. A date flight to Harris Ranch should do the trick! Matt plans to continue on with Instrument rating, Commercial and Flight Instructor (CFI) certifications in his pursuit of a career with an airline or corporate company. Thanks for all your hard work in and out of the airplane, Matt. From all of us, congratulations!!!
Examiner: Yuzo Wakita
Aircraft: Cessna N61637
Checkride Location:
San Jose, CA (KRHV)
New Private Pilot – Harsh Parandekar
Feb 03 2017Date: January 30, 2017
Instructor: David Waksberg
Certification: Private Pilot
A big congrats to Harsh and his instructor David for passing a checkride on the first attempt, which is quite a feat these days! Despite the weather delays we’ve seen in California this time of year, with heavy rains and storms, Harsh and David were able to finish up the training and found a beautiful day to complete the checkride. Way to go. Whoot whoot!
“I took up flying not just because it’s truly fascinating but also because I want to encourage my son to join the US Airforce and go on to becoming an astronaut. If he does walk on Mars one day, we will fondly remember this past year at Aerodynamic that got the ball rolling 🙂 Truly appreciate the support from the school. You have a really dedicated and helpful team. And special thanks to David who made the learning fun!” ~ Harsh
Examiner: Yuzo Wakita
Aircraft: Cessna N737ZD
Checkride Location:
San Jose, CA (KRHV)
New Private Pilot – Edan Ben-Moshe
Jan 31 2017Date: January 28, 2017
Instructor: Jen Delp-Mallet
Certification: Private Pilot
After soloing a taildragger with us at 16 years old, Edan earned his Private Pilot License in a Citabria at 17! Talk about bragging rights. Shortly after holding up his temporary airmen certificate, Edan took to the skies with his first passenger, his dad, a Private Pilot who earned his instrument rating with AeroDynamic’s chief instructor Jen. We hope to see the family traditions continue. Edan plans to attend aviation college after graduating high school this summer and continue on with a professional pilot career. We are so honored to have been part of his journey and can’t wait to see all he will accomplish. The biggest hurdle may be getting his dad to be a tailwheel pilot, too…
Examiner: Scott Rohlfing
Aircraft: Citabria N1806G
Checkride Location:
San Jose, CA (KRHV)
New Private Pilot – Mary McEnroe
Jan 27 2017Date: January 13, 2016
Instructor: Batelle Rachmian
Certification: Private Pilot License
Way to go! Mary McEnroe soloed with us on April Fool’s Day and recently passed her Private Pilot checkride on Friday the 13th. Apparently those are good luck days for her, as she passed on the first attempt with Examiner Yuzo! Despite weather delays and globetrotting for her job, Mary made time to work diligently at earning her license to fly. Her goal right now is to fly for fun. Today she took her first passenger, her mom, for whale watching around the Monterey and Santa Cruz coast. We love to see success stories like Mary and wish her the best in her flying adventures. Congrats to her and Batelle for all their hard work and patience.
Examiner: Yuzo Wakita
Aircraft: Cessna N12234
Checkride Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
New Private Pilot – Fred Schulze
Nov 11 2016Date: November 5, 2016
Instructor: Jen Delp-Mallet
Certification: Private Pilot License
Fred came to AeroDynamic Aviation to finish his Private Pilot training. He not only earned his license on the first attempt with Eric Cook, he passed with flying colors! He plans to continue on with our Mountain Flying Course, Complex Aircraft Checkout, and eventually move on to Instrument Rating. His Instructor Jen could not be more proud of all his hard work and determination to follow his dreams. Way to go, Fred!
Examiner: Eric Cook
Aircraft: Cessna N98485
Checkride Location: San Martin, CA (E16)
New Private Pilot – Yi Shi
Nov 09 2016Date: October 31, 2016
Instructor: Eric Curtis
Certification: Private Pilot License
AeroDynamic Aviation offers a huge congratulations to Yi for successfully passing his Private Pilot checkride with examiner Eric Cook!
In his own words, “I am Yi Shi, a student of AeroDynamic school, who has just finished 4-month training class and got my license last week. Before entering this school, I had some hours of flying experience, but the success and final outcome of my achieving required lots of guidance and assistance from many people from this school whom I am extremely fortunate to fl with all along the completion of my flying work.
A special thank of mine would go to Eric and Jim, who have provided nice nonstop support to me and helped me most in the whole process. They are experienced pilots who are always willing to share and exchange interesting aviation stories with me. For a young person, their pragmatic advice and authentic guidance are really precious. I would also like to express my profound gratitude to all the staff in AeroDynamic for their necessary information and prompt assistance within such a well-developed flight system. I hope more and more people will benefit from AeroDynamic and good luck to all of you!”
Examiner: Eric Cook
Aircraft: Cessna N61637
Checkride Location: San Martin, CA (E16)
New Private Pilot – Dustin Liu
Nov 03 2016Date: October 24, 2016
Instructor: Eric Curtis
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Certification: Private Pilot License
Dustin begin his training with Instructor Lynzie Hudson. When she went on leave, he transitioned to Eric Curtis. The whole AeroDynamic team pitched in to help Dustin complete his goal of becoming a pilot. Special thanks to Jim Grant, Jen Delp-Mallet, David Waksberg, Jason Brown, and the other instructors who made this possible for him. Congrats, Dustin!!
“I started my training since Feb. 1, 2014 and had my first solo flight Sep. 13, 2015. I always wanted to fly but did not have the chance until I made several visits to ADA. I like the people here and I finally convinced myself and my family that this is something I need to do. My wife has been always supportive and she was my first passenger after I got my PPL. I got a lot help from ADA staff and instructors. I really appreciate it. I look forward to my life as a private pilot.” ~ Dustin
New Private Pilot – SG (Sze Guan Tan)
Oct 27 2016Date: October 26, 2016
Instructor: Almost Everyone
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Certification: Private Pilot License
If you’ve been around our Reid-Hillview location within the past year, chances are you know SG already. He’s become a welcome part of the family, and we are proud to annouce he passed his Private Pilot checkride with flying colors on the first attempt with DPE Yuzo Wakita!
SG began training with David Pease, but he’s flown with almost all the instructors we have. Special thanks to Eric Curtis and Jen Delp-Mallet for helping SG stay on track and pushing him out of the nest. No more cross-country or 90-day solo endorsements, SG 😉 We are so proud of you! Now…onto instrument rating, commercial certificate and eventually CFI so you can teach with us.
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.