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New Private Pilot – Adam Jansen
Jun 24 2019Date: June 14, 2019
Certification: Private Pilot
Instructor: Scott Holland
Aircraft: Citabria N2508Z
“Earning the PPL has been very rewarding. It took a little over a year of dedication and hard work to earn the certificate, but I am happy that I finally did it. Next up: mountain flying, aerobatics, and maybe a seaplane rating!” ~ Adam
First Solo Flight – Heather Hayden
Feb 28 2019Solo Date: February 28, 2019
Aircraft: Citabria 7KCAB – N11681
Instructors: Jason Brown & Jen Watson
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
You rock, Heather! After taking a few months off due to a broken wrist, Heather came back with a vengeance to tame the taildragger. Boy, did she! After nailing all her landings, Heather’s instructor signed off her solo endorsement and stood by the runway to proudly watch as Heather completed her 3 solo full-stop landings in the pattern at Reid-Hillview Airport. You’ll never forget the feeling, realizing it’s all on your skill to safely land an airplane, of your first solo flight. Well done on a hard-earned solo!
First Solo Flight – Edgar Xiong
Dec 17 2018Solo Date: December 3, 2018
Aircraft: Citabria N9091L
Instructor: Grainne Gilvarry
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
“Aviation has been in my life since day one from frequent overseas travel. Flying was always the dream, but I was hesitant to chase it due to a medical condition. After encouragement and help from fellow friends and CFI’s, I’ve got my medical and am pursuing that dream! After my PPL, I’m eager to go for a Commercial License so I can continue to explore the vast azure skies.” ~ Edgar Xiong
First Solo Flight – Adam Jansen
Dec 07 2018Solo Date: December 2, 2018
Aircraft: Citabria N2508Z
Instructor: Scott Holland
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
“I grew up about 50 miles from Oshkosh, so my family used to check out EAA AirVenture every year. Once I took a discovery flight during college, it became a goal to earn my PPL. I’m looking forward to making it happen!” ~ Adam
Way to make it happen in a taildragger! We tend to think it’s a good thing to solo in a Citabria 😉
First Solo Flight – Randy Rerucha
Nov 26 2018Solo Date: October 27, 2018
Aircraft: Citabria 9091L
Instructor: Scott Holland
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
“This is my second solo since soloing years ago at the age of 17, but this time it’s in a tailwheel aircraft. I’m looking forward to earning my PPL and continuing my flight training beyond.” ~ Randy
Flying solo is an incredible experience too few people ever realize. To get the experience twice is remarkably lucky. Go, Randy!!!
First Solo Flight – Bill Reed
Nov 08 2018Solo Date: October 30, 2018
Aircraft: Citabria 9081L
Instructor: Batelle Rachmian
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
With a family history steeped in aviation roots, Bill decided it was time to buy an airplane and learn how to fly it. Years ago, he learned to fly an Aeronca Champ off a grass runway. On Oct 30, his solo dreams came true as he flew his Citabria 7GCAA around the pattern at Reid-Hillview Airport. Bill’s wife, a licensed pilot, has also been flying his plane to get current again after years of not flying. We are excited to see what kinds of adventures these two get up to soon!
First Solo Flight – Ruofan Ding
Sep 25 2018Solo Date: September 11, 2018
Aircraft: Citabria 9091L
Instructor: Batelle Rachmian
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
“I really liked riding roller coasters when I was a kid, and flying gives me the same feeling as riding on a roller coaster: a sense of excitement and freedom. I hope soon I can do aerobatics and say the same line Maverick said in the movie Top Gun, ‘Because I was inverted.’ ” ~ Ruofan
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- On my way…
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- Here we go!
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- Success!
New Private Pilot – Alex Teplixky
Sep 25 2018Date: September 16, 2018
Certification: Private Pilot
Instructor: Jason Brown
Aircraft: Citabria N9091L
While taking a sabbatical from work, and despite a month of travel during training, Alex completed an accelerated Private Pilot course in the Citabria and earned his license this month. Hard work and perseverance allowed him to achieve his goal. Special thanks to all the instructors who helped him get enough ground and flight hours to make this happen. Well done, Alex!!!
First Solo Flight – Ryann Powell
May 05 2018Aircraft: Citabria N2508Z
Solo Date: April 25, 2018
Instructor: Logan Wright
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Women are taking to the skies at Reid-Hillview! Ryann flew her solo flight in a taildragger around the pattern for 31R with instructor Logan watching and listening from below. Congrats to them both. We are so exciting to see this surge in female pilots. Go aviatrices!
“It didn’t occur to me that I could be a pilot until two years ago, after I watched a talk given by Space Shuttle astronaut Rhea Seddon. She mentioned getting her private license in college and it was the first time I realized I could do the same thing. I came to Aerodynamic late last year knowing absolutely nothing about aviation. The instructors and staff have been nothing short of amazing in helping me learn and grow as an aviator. Looking forward to finishing my private license and maybe someday teaching others how to fly taildraggers” ~Ryann
First Solo Flight – Jenna Hinton
May 02 2018Aircraft: Citabria N2508Z
Solo Date: April 8, 2018
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Instructors: Logan Wright & Adam Sciupac
Hooray to Jenna for completing her first solo flight…in a taildragger, no less! She showed the airplane who was boss when she flew 3 laps in the traffic pattern for 31 Right at Reid-Hillview Airport (KRHV) all by herself. Instructors Logan and Adam are proud of her accomplishment. Jenna has become part of the AeroDynamic pilot family, including flying along on our dinner fly-out to Napa. We wish her much success as she continues on to earn her pilot licenses.
“I had always had an interest in aviation and came to Aerodynamic with a small amount of experience in tricycle gear aircraft. After my first flight in a taildragger I was hooked! The Aerodynamic family and instructors provide a great environment for learning underlied by an invigorating passion for aviation. I’m looking forward to completing my PPL training and counting myself among the too few number of women in aviation!” ~Jenna
