San Jose
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New Multi-Engine Pilot – Qi Liu
Sep 26 2016Date: September 23, 2016
Instructor: Ron Vlastelica
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Certification: Multi-Engine Rating
Qi Liu came to us as an instrument-rated private pilot who owns and flies how own Bonanza A36. With just over 200 hours of flight time already, plus complex and high performance endorsements, Qi took to our Piper Twin Comanche easily under the guidance of his CFI Ron. His training included engine shutdowns and restarts, single-engine instrument approaches, stall recognition and recovery, and much more to add a multi-engine rating to his private pilot certificate with examiner Yuzo Wakita. Congrats to Qi and we thank him for training with us!
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 – 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 – 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!
New ATP License – Tipp Weiss
Apr 28 2016Date: April 26, 2016
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Certification: Airline Transport Pilot, Multi-Engine
A huge congratulations to our newest Multi-Engine Airline Transport Pilot! Tipp earned his “doctorate in aviation” on Tuesday in our Twin Comanche with DPE Yuzo Wakita. ATP requires a minimum of 1500 flight hours, among other requirements, so this accomplishment deserves a big round of applause. Well done to Tipp and his instructors, Ron Vlastelica and Jen Delp-Mallet.
First solo – Zak Freedman
Mar 26 2016Date: March 22, 2016
Aircraft: Evektor SportStar
Instructor: Casey Walker
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
UAV pilot and photographer, Zak Freedman, began Sport Pilot training in Monterey and recently soloed the SportStar out of our Reid-Hillview location. Zak came to us as a drone pilot but seems to have fallen in love with flying. After he finishes his Sport Pilot License, he plans to continue on with his Private Pilot License and possibly more. We tried to warn him – Aviation is Addicting! His instructor Casey did an excellent job teaching him the skills to fly solo and soon pass his checkride. Way to go, Zak & Casey!
First Solo – Stanley Cheng
Mar 19 2016Date: March 19, 2016
Aircraft: Cessna 172N
Instructor: Jen Delp-Mallet
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Congrats, Stanley! You flew an airplane by yourself 🙂 Such a momentous day for a pilot as your instructor, Jen, watched happily from beside runway 31R while you flew 3 takeoffs and landings without her. Thanks for all your hard work and efforts to reach this milestone. To many more happy landings!
First Solo – Matt Fall
Mar 19 2016Date: March 17, 2016
Aircraft: Cessna 172M
Instructor: Batelle Raichmian
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Matt flew his first solo in Cessna 61637, with his first landing on 31L and second & third landings on 31R. CFI Batelle watched her newest fledgling leave the nest on another sunny California day. You’ll often see Matt behind the counter at our Reid-Hillview location as he works part-time to help support his flying habit. Keep on truckin’, Matt!
Matt was introduced to flying by a friend in Incline Village, who let him fly his Mooney around Lake Tahoe and from Truckee to Auburn. His goal with flying is to become an airline pilot and travel the world.
New Private Pilot – Hao Dong
Feb 27 2016Date: Feb 26, 2016
Certification: Private Pilot, Cessna 172
Location: Reid-Hillview, San Jose, CA
“Thank you for the greatest training at Aerodynamic! I want to thank Eric and Coby, and all instructors that flew with me: Jen, Ron, David Waksberg, Jason, Jim, Tom, Batelle, Sergey, Casey. I really flew with many instructors here 😉 I’m heading towards IR and acrobatics now.” ~ Hao
Way to go, Hao!!! We heard you did an excellent job on the checkride and it was a joy watching you succeed in earning your Private Pilot’s License. Now to prep you for the next checkride 🙂
New Private Pilot – Suhas Joshi
Feb 26 2016Date: Feb 24, 2016
Certification: Private Pilot, Tailwheel
Location: Reid-Hillview, San Jose, California
“Thanks to the amazing staff at Aerodynamic Aviation for helping me achieve a life goal. Special thanks to CFIs Jason Brown, Tom Morley and Chief Instructor Jen Delp-Mallet for helping me sharpen my flying skills. Next goal – IFR!” ~ Suhas
It’s an incredible thing to be able to help someone achieve their dreams. AeroDynamic is exceptionally proud of all the hard work Suhas put into becoming not just a Private Pilot, but an extremely qualified one. It has been a joy to have him as part of the family and we can’t wait to see what he does with his flying. Way to earn your wings in a taildragger! Congrats to Suhas and his instructors.