student pilot
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First Solo Flight – Chris Severs
Feb 06 2018Aircraft: Citabria N2508Z
Instructor: Lynzie Hudson
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Solo Date: January 31, 2018
Citabria N2508Z has been busy! Our newest student pilot solo goes to Chris Severs, who took 08Z around the pattern a few times on his first tailwheel solo. Chris began flight training many years ago in a Diamond Katana in SoCAL and recently started training for his Private Pilot Certificate in a tailwheel with Lynzie. Nicely done!
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First Solo Flight – Adnan Pratama
Jan 31 2018Aircraft: Citabria N2508Z
Instructor: Logan Wright
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Solo Date: January 15, 2018
Citabria Zero-Eight-Zulu solos its first student pilot with us! We love seeing tailwheel student pilots take to the air with an empty backseat, and Adnan did an excellent job navigating the traffic pattern at Reid-Hillview with proud CFI Logan watching from the side of the runway. Get ready, Adnan, the checkride isn’t far away now!
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First Solo – Jacob Tarango
Dec 31 2017Aircraft: Cessna 172
Instructor: Adam Sciupac
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Solo Date: December 28, 2017
Congrats to Jacob for accomplishing the rare solo birthday flight! At just 16 years old, without even a driver’s license, young Jacob took to the skies with a vacant right seat and realized his dream of soloing. So cool!! Thanks to CFI Adam for helping to make this happen. Well done, guys.
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First Solo – Nicole Herbig
Nov 30 2017Solo Date: November 17, 2017
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Instructor: Lynzie Hudson
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
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First Solo Flight – Gary Hethcoat
Oct 03 2017Solo Date: September 16, 2017
Aircraft: Citabria 7ECA
Instructor: Batelle Rachmian
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Time to cut the tails off another shirt! Congrats to Gary and instructor Batelle for soloing in a taildragger.
“Had my first solo today! I’ve been a huge airplane nut all my life. I designed built and flew R/C models for 30 years. It’s been a life-long dream to learn to fly! Many thanks to my awesome instructor Batelle!” ~ Gary
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First Solo Flight – Vasu Murthy
Aug 15 2017Solo Date: August 12, 2017
Aircraft: Citabria 7ECA
Instructor: David Pease
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Another taildragger pilot flies out of the nest! Vasu took to the skies from each of the parallel runways, 31R and 31L, at Reid-Hillview Airport with instructor David watching from below. Vasu also trained with Batelle and Jason, so he’s got the skills to take a Citabria up for a flight with an empty back seat. Congrats on all your hard work!
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Introductory Flight – Joey
Aug 14 2017San Francisco Bay Tour
Joey, a 17-year-old student pilot, flew with his mom, Ana, and flight instructor Lynzie on an introductory flight around the gorgeous San Francisco Bay! Joey has already flown 3 flights and is keen to do more. He’s going back to school next week and wanted to get one more flight in. He plans to attend ground School with Aerodynamic next session.
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First Solo Flight – Dominic Palazotto
Jul 27 2017Solo Date: July 26, 2017
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Instructors: Jason Brown
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
A big yaaahoooo for Dominic, who flew an airplane by himself at Reid-Hillview airport yesterday under the watchful eye of Instructor Jason. It’s an amazing thing to take off by yourself in an airplane and suddenly realize it is all on you to get back on the ground safely. There is no instructor there to help you make a good landing, just your hours of training and their voice in your head telling you “stay on centerline, flare gently, just a little more back pressure, good!” And the success of such a flight is evident on Dominic’s face next to N915L right after his first solo flight. Nicely done!
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First Solo Flight – Andrew Kuo
Jul 03 2017Solo Date: June 18, 2017
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Instructor: David Waksberg
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
For most people reaching the goal of first solo flight is a big achievement, but for Kuanlin “Andrew” Kuo it took incredible fortitude and commitment. Andrew had to complete all the tasks of any private pilot student. Due to vision issues, he also had to fight his way through getting a special medical issuance and passing a flight test (called a SODA) with Jeff Ebey, the man in charge of all pilot examiners and flight school operations at San Jose FSDO. Andrew passed with flying colors 😉 He and instructor David definitely earned the privilege to solo and are now continuing on to Private Pilot certification. Nice work, guys!
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First Solo Flight – Thao Do
Jul 03 2017Solo Date: May 27, 2017
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Instructor: Dick Chang
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
A big shout out to Thao, who successfully completed her first solo flight in Cessna N12234. Instructor Dick Chang watched like a proud papa as Thao flew 3 takeoffs and landings on Runways 31R and 31L without him sitting next to her.
Thao came to AeroDynamic for an aerobatic thrill ride with our Chief Instructor, Jen, and she has become a cheery face at our school. She is an incredibly accomplished woman who is quickly adding “pilot” to her list of capabilities.
Thao filmed her flight to share with all of us, prospective and experienced pilots, her incredible experience. Click here to see her YouTube video.