Cessna 172

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commercial pilot, checkride, Cessna 172

New Commercial Pilot – Rick Vander Kam

Jan 04 2020
Date: December 31, 2019
Certification: Commercial Pilot ASEL
Instructor: Dick Chang
Aircraft: N915L

commercial pilot, checkride, Cessna 172

“I grew up building and flying model airplanes and rockets, and it seems I’ve always had an interest in aviation-related things. I’ve been flying with AeroDynamic for about 15 years, from initial solo and Private certification in taildraggers to an Instrument rating and other endorsements, recurrent training, and flying just for fun. I’m thankful that over all those years, at each step, AeroDynamic’s instructors and airplanes have met and surpassed my own needs.
This past summer, after a few years of friendly urging (we won’t call it nagging) from instructor Dick Chang, and finding myself suddenly between jobs, it was a great opportunity to go after the Commercial license. Mastering all of the knowledge and skills and maneuvers takes significant time and effort on the part of both pilot and instructor. I want to thank Dick for all those dual hours and good lunches, and also Kat, Jen, and Matt, who stepped in and helped me along at different times. Reflecting on the recent checkride, I can honestly say I was well-prepared — thanks to those just mentioned.
Although I have no immediate plans to exercise Commercial Pilot privileges, this step opens up new options for me. Over the years, I’ve given more than 20 people their first rides in small planes, and I really enjoy sharing the joy and excitement of flying. There’s a decent chance that I’ll someday follow the same path as Dick, with a high-tech career eventually morphing into a flight-instruction career. I will admit I’ve started thinking about what to work on next — CFI? AMEL? ASES? Tough call!” ~ Rick
We think you’ll make an excellent instructor!
solo, C172

First Solo Flight – Lukasz Weber

Dec 19 2019
Solo Date: December 16, 2019
Aircraft: Cessna N61637
Instructor: Cheryl Mitrus
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)

solo, C172

“Airplanes have always been my passion, maybe it’s my Polish childhood, where the impact of WWII can still be strongly felt in contrast to the freedom of flight. Ever since, I’ve been building airplane models, plastic, then RC. Particularly interested in propeller driven WWII machines, I’ve been flying models, simulators, wing suits, and generally trying to fly in some very indirect ways. Now, inspired by my friends, and the fact that my work is moving offices next to an airport, I figured, enough waiting. I’m looking forward to flying regularly to work (and try to beat the peninsula traffic) and to the various skydiving drop zones around California on the weekends! I’m so excited to fly for real!” ~Lukasz

pilot, checkride, flight training

New Private Pilot – Sergi Perdices

Nov 20 2019
Date: October 5, 2019
Certification: Private Pilot
Instructor: Kat Hanlon
Aircraft: Cessna N98485

“During the time that I have been involved with Aerodynamic, I really liked the community and I would like to stay connected. I will not pursue instrument rating yet. I would like to enjoy flying for a while, but I still want to continue learning real world flying. If there are pilots that want to plan fun trips, I would love to connect with them.” ~Sergi

checkride, Cessna, pilot

New Private Pilot – Adnan Pratama

Nov 13 2019
Date: October 5, 2019
Certification: Private Pilot
Instructor: Kat Hanlon
Aircraft: Cessna N737ZD

checkride, Cessna, pilot

“Being a pilot has been my dream as a child. But for a long time I was raised in a home where the thought of that becoming reality never came across. I first got to know that being a pilot just before I graduated from college and never got a chance to get into it until now.
Now that I am licensed, I am planning to go to different places and learn flying in different airplanes including experimental and maybe even part 103. I also plan to get my instrument if I find flying VFR got me grounded too many times due to weather.
I’d like to thank all of my instructors and special thank to Kat Hanlon for taking me when I was left halfway without instructor and pushed me towards the finish line.” ~ Adnan

checkride, Cessna, pilot

New Private Pilot – Robert Curtis

Sep 25 2019
Date: September 20, 2019
Certification: Private Pilot
Instructor: David Waksberg
Aircraft: Cessna N737ZD

checkride, Cessna, pilot

“I grew up on air bases and have been an aviation nut for as long as I can remember. It has been a life-long goal of mine to become a licensed pilot. I finally found the right period of life, right school, and right instructor. My family and I are excited to take trips and see more of our country through general aviation.” ~ Robert

KMRY, pilot, solo, C172

First Solo Flight – Kaleo Clissold

Sep 25 2019
Solo Date: September 21, 2019
Aircraft: Cessna – N62244
Instructor: Ben Khader
Location: Monterey, CA (KMRY)

KMRY, pilot, solo, C172

“June this year I had a amazing opportunity that opened up to me to pursue aviation as part of my carrier in law enforcement. This had never even been a thought in my mind until now. I have always been mesmerized by flight but never in my dreams did I think I would actually do it. To my amazement I have now been blessed to have just completed my first solo flight in my pursuit of commercial aspersions. Thank you Ben Khader and Aerodynamic Aviation for making this dream a reality.” ~Kaleo

New Instrument Rating – Zibin He

Sep 25 2019
Date: September 19, 2019
Certification: Instrument Rating
Instructor: David Waksberg
Aircraft: Cessna N828LP

“Passing the instrument checkride is really a hard work pay off for me. After my private checkride, I jumped right into instrument almost without any break. Unlike all the beautiful things during private training, I only see one picture (the panel) all the time throughout the instrument training. It’s kind of a tolerate, but also discipline. It’s the pay off that I finally get my ticket to fly into clouds. I don’t plan to have any break and will do my commercial license training starting next week. Big thanks to David and everyone had ever helped me on my flight training.” ~Zibin

New Instrument Rating – Joseph Oberholtzer

Sep 23 2019
Date: September 3, 2019
Certification: Instrument Rating
Instructor: Dick Chang
Aircraft: Cessna N54102

Joseph Oberholtzer grew up hanging out at his best friend’s house at the end of a grass strip (KO03) and hearing stories of bush flying into the remote native communities in Canada. He now works as an engineer in aviation and is starting to collect his own flying stories that only other pilots and small children will to listen to. His current goal is to convince someone to let him fly their Pawnee (or really anything) to drag other airplanes through the sky.

We are happy to be part of his story. Congrats on achieving this hard-won aviation milestone!

pilot, checkride, krhv

New Private Pilot – Jacob Tarango

Sep 10 2019
Date: September 8, 2019
Certification: Private Pilot
Instructors: Grant Ozdinski & Adam Sciupac
Aircraft: Cessna N12234
pilot, checkride, krhv
“I started my fascination with aviation when I was young. My parents would tell me when I was 6 I would be looking at airplanes and would point at planes and say “I want to do that some day”, and that day came. With the help of my parents I was able to start my flight training at 15 and a half, before I had my driving permit, and soloed on my 16th birthday, flying alone before I could drive a car alone. I have been flying for around 2 years and finally earned my private pilot certificate with the help of many instructors.” ~ Jacob
checkride, pilot, CA

New Private Pilot – Sean Bhattacharya

Sep 08 2019
Date: September 3, 2019
Certification: Private Pilot
Instructors: Jason Brown & Cheryl Mitrus
Aircraft: Cessna N61637

checkride, pilot, CA

Sean always had the soaring dream of flying and owning his own aircraft since he was a kid. About a little more than an year ago, an exciting flight in a Cirrus SR aircraft motivated him to come and join Aerodynamic last September to start and continue his flying lessons to become a Private Pilot. Sean is getting the new Cirrus aircraft of his dreams next year and will continue his instrument training in his new plane. His plans are to travel with friends and family to many places in the new aircraft.
He also wants to spend more time in his California Central Coast home using his plane to travel back and forth.
At the same time, Sean wants to continue his learning to become a better and better pilot!
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