private pilot
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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 – Matthew Tripp
Jul 23 2018Date: July 14, 2018
Certification: Private Pilot
Instructor: Adam Sciupac
Aircraft: Cessna N54102
“I started flying when I was 14. My parents got me a discovery flight for my birthday and I was hooked. I started my training in 1989 and logged about 50 hrs and my first solo before life intervened.
28 years later I decided to get back into aviation and found Aerodynamic. The Aerodynamic family and specifically Adam Sciupac, who is an amazing instructor, took me through getting my private pilot license.
From here I hope to continue with my instrument, complex and multi engine ratings to safely explore all aviation has to offer with my friends and family.” ~ Matthew
Congrats on a first-time pass of your Private Pilot checkride!
New Private Pilot – Chris Severs
Jun 05 2018Date: June 2, 2018
Certification: Private Pilot
Instructor: Lynzie Hudson
Aircraft: Citabria N2508Z
Chalk up another victory to Instructor Lynzie. She guided Chris to a first-time pass of his Private Pilot checkride. In the words of the examiner during their break between oral and practical testing, “he’s on fire!” Chris aced his checkride š We’re excited to see him out and about with his new license.
New Private Pilot – Adam Shapiro
Dec 31 2017Date: December 29, 2017
Certification: PrivateĀ Pilot
Instructor: Jamie Redding
What were you doing on your 17th birthday? Very few people could answer that they were taking the checkride for their Private Pilot License, let alone doing so well they impressed the FAA examiner. But that is exactly what 17-year-old Adam did last Friday. What an incredible achievement for one so young. We are happy to have been able to give you your first set of wings, Adam, and wish you so much luck in life.
Examiner: Eric Cook
Aircraft: Cessna N62244
Checkride Location:
Monterey, CA (KMRY)
New Private Pilot – Annie Pepper
Dec 14 2017Date: December 1, 2017
Certification: PrivateĀ Pilot
We’ve converted another helicopter pilot! Annie is a very accomplished rotor wing pilot and instructor. We hope one day soon she will be teaching for us. She is well on her way! After soloing in an airplane just recently, she completed her requirements and earned a first-time pass on her Airplane Private Pilot checkride. Next up is Airplane Instrument, Commercial and then Instructor. On top of all this, she is a full-time law student with internships and she occasionally fills in at our office. You are amazing, Annie!
Examiner: Scott Rohlfing
Aircraft: Cessna N12234
Checkride Location:
San Jose, CA (KRHV)
New Private Pilot – Adam Lantos
Nov 30 2017Date: November 24, 2017
Instructor: Jason Brown
Certification: PrivateĀ Pilot
Woohooo! Congrats to Adam for earning his Private Pilot License. He didn’t just earn his PPL, he earned it in a taildragger. Adam began his flight training primarily with David Pease and did a bit of training with our Chief Instructor Jen. But a big thanks goes to CFI Jason for helping Adam cross the finish line and receive a first-time pass with Examiner Scott. Nice!
Examiner: Scott Rohlfing
Aircraft: Citabria N1806G
Checkride Location:
San Jose, CA (KRHV)
New Private Pilot – Trevor Orr
Nov 01 2017Date: October 18, 2017
Instructor: David Waksberg
Certification: PrivateĀ Pilot
Student pilot Trevor Orr recently showed up for his Private Pilot checkride with examiner Scott. Not only did he knock it out of the park with a first-time pass, he walked out with his Private Pilot certificate and a job well done. Congrats to both him and his instructor, David.
Examiner: Scott Rohlfing
Aircraft: Cessna N54102
Checkride Location:
San Jose, CA (KRHV)
New Private Pilot – Robert Knight
Sep 14 2017Date: September 9, 2017
Instructor: Jen Watson
Certification: Private Pilot
A huge congratulations to Robert for passing his Private Pilot checkride with examiner Eric. Robert and his instructor, Jen, flew his Cirrus SR22 Turbo down to Paso Robles on Saturday afternoon and returned to Monterey later that evening with a pilot certificate in hand. Robert owns an art gallery in Monterey and came to AeroDynamic with a background in parasailing. He bought his Cirrus after a few months of training in our Cessnas and plans to travel quite a bit. In fact, he already flew his girlfriend to a baseball came in San Francisco! He plans to continue on to an Instrument Rating after a short break to enjoy his new license. Happy flying š
Examiner: Eric Cook
Aircraft: Cirrus SR22T
Checkride Location:
Paso Robles, CA (KRHV)
New Private Pilot – Joonwoo Cho
Sep 05 2017Date: September 3, 2017
Instructor: Ron Vlastelica
Certification: Private Pilot
Congrats to Joon and his instructor Ron for a first-time checkride pass! The following is Joon’s write up of his experience with us:
“My name is Joonwoo Cho, one of the student pilot flying in Aerodynamic Aviation. I achieved my private pilot license in 3rd of September. Thanks to my instructor Ron and aerodynamic.
The checkride was pretty much expectable. My DPE Eric Cook is a very thorough examiner. He did not assume anything. If you are good, then you are good. If you do something bad, then you are bad. It is that simple. I felt if you pass the checkride with him, you can definitely be proud of yourself as a safe pilot not having any luck to pass the exam. I really think all the FAA DPE should be like him. He also always tried to make the flight circumstance comfortable as possible because he knows all the students are nervous in a checkride. On the checkride, he was sure a āpolite passenger with aeronautical knowledgeā I really recommend other students to use him as a well know passenger. Do not think as he is looking for something you do wrong. Use the DPE for safe flight and smooth exam. This will help students a lot.
Instructor Ron was a great instructor. His knowledge and flying skills are good, but the best thing about him is he really take care his student until the last moment. To pass the checkride, the flying is not everything. I think the flying portion is just a basic that you should be able to pass by yourself. The more important thing is how you prepare it. Is your plane suitable? Didnāt you miss something like maintenance book? CRM, decision makings, etc. To be a good pilot, flying skill is nothing. Just like driving a car, if you fly more, you will fly better someday. But, the mind for the safe flying is the most important thing. To mention about the way of his teaching, he does not just give you the answer, he gives you time to think and come up with an answer of your own. With this method, you can develop you decision making and this is not something you can develop by just building the flight time. I would also like to give my thanks to aerodynamic aviation. They gave me a pleasant time, and comfortable circumstances for flying. It is really a shame that I cannot stay at US and fly more since I have to go back to my country this month.”