Cessna 172
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First Solo Flight – Jason Davis
Aug 31 2018Solo Date: August 14, 2018
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Instructors: Bill Herrick
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
First Solo Flight – Chris Middleton
Aug 21 2018Solo Date: August 2, 2018
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Instructors: Batelle & Kat
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
First Solo Flight – Varun Kukreja
Aug 21 2018Aircraft: Cessna 172
Solo Date: August 1, 2018
Instructor: Travis Mills
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
Three teenage pilots take to the sky!
Aug 01 2018One of our recent graduate’s mom snapped this photo of three 17-year-old Aerodynamic students (2 newly licensed private pilots and 1 student pilot) departing out of Monterey airport. Adam Shapiro is in the left seat, Katrina Espinoza is in the right (his safety pilot) and Sophia Taylor-Home is in the back seat. If you look closely, you can actually see clear silhouettes of 3 people inside the plane.
Adam earned his Private Pilot with us in Monterey back in December 2017. Katrina earned her license at our Reid-Hillview location in June 2018 thanks to a generous scholarship from AOPA (she won their High School scholarship in 2016 for $5000) and another scholarship from the 99s in 2018. Sophia is a current student pilot working hard to get to solo.
We are so proud of you all! This next generation of pilots work hard for their successes and prove you are never too young or too old to go after your dreams. We wish you all the best in your aviation careers!
New Private Pilot – Katrina Espinoza
Jul 09 2018Date: June 25, 2018
Certification: Private Pilot
Instructor: Lynzie Hudson & Travis Mills
Aircraft: Cessna N12234
We are so proud of Katrina’s hard work and dedication. After a challenging beginning to her training at another school, Katrina persevered and commuted to our San Jose location. Katrina won a few scholarships through the 99s to help pave the way for flying. Thanks to their help, and our wonderful instructors, she just earned her first pilot license! Her mom has been there every step of the way, encouraging her 17-year-old daughter in the pursuit of her dreams. Way to go, ladies! Thanks for choosing our school. We love to see stories like yours.
“You folks are the best! I can see why you are on the AOPA Honor roll. You nurtured my daughter’s passion for flying and helped her meet a challenging goal – earning her private pilot license at the age of 17. Your CFIs are professional, competent and caring. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of camaraderie and cooperation at your flight school. You’ve taught my daughter to be a safe pilot, validating the things she did well and correcting her constructively and effectively when she needed it. You are a great flight school and, in a sense, have become my daughter’s aviation family. Keep doing what you’re doing!” ~ Katrina’s mom
First Solo Flight – Mohammed Darwish
Jul 09 2018“Thanks a lot for the great work at Aerodynamic! It is amazing!
I got hooked up on flying because of DOS flying games! They were fun and the idea of “flying” came with lots of freedom! When Microsoft Flight Simulator ’98 came out I was mind blown! All the gauges, dials and checklists were intriguing! After moving to the Bay Area 20 years later I thought it would be a good idea to try it out in real life and I have no regrets; it was ABSOLUTELY fantastic and more fun than what expected. The serenity and tranquility flying brings together with the mesmerizing scenery are unmatched. I am not sure when to stop, but the journey just started!”
~ Mohammed
We couldn’t agree more with your description of flying! Congrats on the first notch in your pilot belt. There will be many more to come, but the first time flying solo will always hold a special place in your memory. Thanks for letting us be a part of your journey.
Aircraft: Cessna N915L
Solo Date: July 8, 2018
Instructor: Adam Sciupac
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
First Solo Flight – Prashant Saxena
Jun 05 2018Congrats to CFI David and student pilot Prashant on a fun first solo! We love helping dreams come true, and seeing someone achieve their flying goals is just the most amazing thing for us. We could tell you more, but Prashant took an awesome video to share his first solo flight experience!
Aircraft: Cessna N12234
Solo Date: June 3, 2018
Instructor: David Waksberg
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
First Solo Flight – Prad Kikkeri
May 16 2018Aircraft: Cessna N915L
Solo Date: May 13, 2018
Instructor: Travis Mills
Location: San Martin, CA (E16)
Congrats to our Reid-Hillview student Prad, who flew 3 laps in left closed traffic for Runway 14 at San Martin!
“My family noticed my interest in aviation when I was 2 years old, and thanks to the local air & space museum near where I grew up in Colorado, I had already learned how to set up flights in Microsoft Flight Simulator by the time I was 4. My love for flying has never diminished to this day. I got my first taste of private flying in high school, when a friend of mine got his PPL and took me on a couple of cross-country flights to neighboring states. The sense of pure freedom was incredible! When I moved out to the Bay Area, I stopped by AeroDynamic Aviation to take a tour, and everyone was so friendly and energetic and eager to help me make my lifelong dream come true. After my PPL, I’d like to get my instrument, commercial, and multi-engine ratings and be a CFI on the side so that I may teach share my passion for aviation with others.” ~Prad
New Private Pilot – Peng Xue
May 16 2018Date: May 3, 2018
Certification: Private Pilot
Instructor: Batelle Rachmian
Aircraft: Cessna N61637
“I’ve been wanting to fly since I was a child, and now my my long-time dream has finally come true. My goal is to have fun flying and enjoy the freedom 🙂 Thanks to everyone at AeroDynamic, especially my awesome flight instructor Batelle, who guided me through my training.” ~Peng
Congrats on a job well done, Peng and Batelle!
New Private Pilot – Thao Do
May 15 2018Date: May 9, 2018
Certification: Private Pilot
Instructor: All of Us!
Aircraft: Cessna N915L
For Thao’s birthday in 2015, her brother gave her a gift certificate to fly aerobatics at Aerodynamic Aviation with Chief Instructor Jen. It was the greatest experience of her life. Jen took her up in the Decathlon 8KCAB and they flew aerobatic maneuvers like hammerheads, Cuban 8, Shark’s Tooth, Humpty-Bumpty, barrel rolls, stalls, and spins. She even taught Thao how to perform a loop. Thao was hooked. Thao returned to AeroDynamic as a student pilot and has “flown” through her training like a women possessed by aviation. As icing on the cake, just after her checkride in Salinas, Thao met her idol – airshow performer Sean Tucker. What a way to finish up her license! Thao is already continuing on to earn her ground instructor certificates. We hope she will come teach for us one day 🙂
