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![Sport pilot, sporstar, light sport](https://www.aerodynamicaviation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/John-D-SPL.jpg)
New Sport Pilot – John DeRuiter
Nov 30 2021Sport Pilot Checkride: November 3, 2021
Instructor: Sergey Kataev
Aircraft: SportStar N712MF
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
“I come from a flying family that has 2 retired KLM pilots and 1 KLM flight engineer and now a cousin that is also a pilot at KLM. I always wanted to fly and do have a paraglider rating but actual powered aircraft never seemed possible. Then a few years ago I decided to give it a go. I started at a school in Livermore and the plane I was learning in was a 1946 Champ, it broke and was taking forever to fix so I found Serge and started sport pilot training with him and the Aerodynamic team. It has taken me longer (not Serge’s fault) and has been more of an effort than I ever imagined it would be but it is an accomplishment that I am very proud of. I have a lot more respect now for people that go through pilot training especially when you figure out it’s not about being some hot shot in a plane but it’s about a whole lot more, actually you will be humbled and can leave the hot shot attitude at home. Also I have a lot more to learn. So I want to thank all of you for helping me get to this point in my flying adventure and am sure you’ll be seeing more of me at the school.” ~ John D.
![Cessna, PPL, checkride, flight training](https://www.aerodynamicaviation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Brian-Baumgartner-PPL-scaled.jpeg)
New Private Pilot – Brian Baumgartner
Nov 16 2021Private Pilot Checkride: October 19, 2021
Instructor: Thao Do
Aircraft: Cessna N98485
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
“Ever since seeing Top Gun for the first time as a child I wanted to be a pilot. After a few false starts in the past, I finally made it happen this year. While I knew it would be difficult, I never dreamed of the knowledge, skill, and determination required to make it happen. You truly will experience every emotion as you navigate the process, including elation when you finally achieve your goal. I could not have made it all the way without the help, support, and instruction provided by the CFIs and office staff at Aerodynamic Aviation, including Matt Fall, Chris Bonneau, Kevin Oliver, Graham Harbman, Daniel Sims, and especially my primary flight and ground school instructor, Thao Do, who spent countless hours with me in the classroom and cockpit fine tuning my skills and molding me into the pilot I am today.” ~ Brian
![solo, Cessna, pilot](https://www.aerodynamicaviation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Deepak-Ravishankar.jpeg)
First Solo Flight – Deepak Ravishankar
Nov 09 2021Solo Date: October 14, 2021
Aircraft: Cessna N968RC
Instructor: Thao Do
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
“I have always had the dream of learning to fly and it has always a question of “when” and not “if”. When I started my training, I thought I would be nervous but with all the amazing training from Thao and Clinton my solo felt like just another flight. Excited for the next steps and to get my license!” ~ Deepak
![PPL, checkride](https://www.aerodynamicaviation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Vinay-Shiva-scaled.jpeg)
New Private Pilot – Vinay Shiva
Nov 04 2021Private Pilot Checkride: October 1, 2021
Instructors: Mitchell Templeton & Thao Do
Aircraft: Cessna N54102
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
“Growing up in the vicinity of an Air Force base, it’s always been a dream to fly. Although I didn’t pursue it as a career, I’m excited and grateful to have been able to reach this milestone.
Many thanks to Thao for helping me prepare and ensuring I reach the required perfection, and to Mitchell for pushing me through when I hit the plateau before my solo.
Looking forward to exercising my private pilot privileges and exploring the skies!” ~ Vinay
![C172, N12234, checkride](https://www.aerodynamicaviation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Craig-Stanley-PPL.jpg)
New Private Pilot – Craig Stanley
Sep 27 2021Private Pilot Checkride: September 9, 2021
Instructor: Thao Do
Aircraft: Cessna N12234
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Congrats to Craig on a first-time pass of his Private Pilot checkride with DPE Tom Hornak! His instructor Thao is incredibly proud.
![IFR, checkride, N98485](https://www.aerodynamicaviation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Derrick-Gendron-IFR-9.7-scaled-e1632419004153.jpg)
New Instrument Rating – Derrick Gendron
Sep 23 2021IFR Checkride: September 7, 2021
Instructor: Brian Engh
Aircraft: Cessna N98485
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Congrats to Derrick on acing one of the most challenging checkrides you will have. IFR training is fun, valuable and a lot of hardwork. Well done! Now time to look outside again as you prepare to become a Commercial Pilot.
![solo, flight, N968RC](https://www.aerodynamicaviation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Akhil-Dua-solo-scaled.jpg)
First Solo Flight – Akhil Dua
Sep 21 2021Solo Date: August 31, 2021
Aircraft: Cessna N968RC
Instructor: Clintton Spinelli
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Akhil worked incredibly hard to earn the privilege of flying solo in an airplane! His instructor Clintt is very proud of his determination and can’t wait to see him earn his Private Pilot License soon.
![N2804Z, aerobatics, acrobatics, decathlon](https://www.aerodynamicaviation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Inverted-Decathlon.png)
Aerobatic Seminar with SCFC
Sep 14 2021Our Chief Instructor, Jen Watson, and Assistant Chief Instructor, Lynzie Hudson, were honored to work with San Carlos Flight Center to present the webinar “Introduction to Aerobatic Flying.” You can view the 1-hour video presentation below.
For those interested in Aerobatics, Spin or Upset Recovery training, please contact our office for details on the variety of training we offer.
San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) hosts a wide variety and frequent WINGS seminars and webinars. Please click here to visit their website for current events.
![commercial pilot, KRHV](https://www.aerodynamicaviation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Sergey-w-Thao-CPL.jpg)
New Commercial Pilot – Sergey Kataev
Sep 13 2021Commercial Pilot Checkride: August 31, 2021
Instructors: Dick, Thao & Evgenii
Aircraft: Cessna N54102
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Happy birthday, Sergey!
“I got my first PPL Scotland and flew in the US with AeroDynamic on that license. Eventually I found the taildragger challenge to be great fun and got my US PPL in a Citabria, then added glider rating as a safer alternative to hang gliding.
Light sport planes have always appealed to me as the most fun to fly, so I got a CFI-Sport license, and I’ve introduced quite a few people to flying over the last 3 years.
Last year I decided to go for the full CFI, completing the Instrument rating in April and now Commercial Pilot license. Thanks to Dick Chang, Thao Do and Evgenii Sikachev for teaching me. CFI is next!” ~ Sergey
![solo, flight, KRHV](https://www.aerodynamicaviation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Brian-Baumgartner-solo.jpeg)
First Solo Flight – Brian Baumgartner
Sep 06 2021Solo Date: August 23, 2021
Aircraft: Cessna N968RC
Instructor: Thao Do
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
“It was exciting to reach the first major milestone that everyone talks about in aviation: The Solo. We parked the plane and my instructor got out, after which this baby bird literally flew away from the nest. Even though we had practiced some 150 landings and 50 flight hours, the confidence and pride in my abilities made the first solo experience as monumentus and exhilarating as I was told it would be.” ~ Brian