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New Private Pilot – Matt Cole
Mar 03 2021Date: February 4, 2021
Instructor: Scott Holland
Aircraft: Citabria N2508Z
“Flying was something that I always wanted to do because of my Grandfather, Lt Col Hillary Cole. He always had so many war stories flying planes in WWII, or the Korean War. One of my favorites was when he met my grandmother and flew over with a training Jet and tipped his wings to impress my grandmother while she was sunbathing in Wisconsin. He was larger than life and a big inspiration to me. I feel very fortunate to have had him in my life and to have been able to share with him that I was also training to become a pilot before he passed away. Right now, my wife Lindsey and I are planning to use my PPL to explore California. Soon, I plan on getting an instrument rating and a mountain checkout so that we can fly more often and to more places. In the future, I see myself becoming a CFI and training new students just like my CFI, Scott Holland. Thank you Aerodynamic, I’m looking forward to my next rating!” ~Matt

New Private Pilot – Mike Vo
Feb 26 2021Date: February 10, 2021
Instructor: Ivan Stanojevic
Aircraft: Citabria N2508Z
Congrats to Mike Vo on becoming our newest tailwheel Private Pilot! Mike earned his wings on the mighty Citabria with the help of Instructor Ivan. Well done!!!

New Private Pilot – Heather Hayden
Nov 10 2020Date: October 31, 2020
Instructors: Jen Watson & Ivan Stanojevic
Aircraft: Citabria N2508Z
The challenge of learning in a conventional airplane (aka tailwheel or taildragger) is worth the time and dedication when you turn out pilots as accomplished as Heather. Despite various setbacks throughout training (a broken wrist from playing sports, forest fires, weather challenges, a pandemic, etc.), she persevered to become a lady taildragger pilot on her first checkride attempt. We love having Heather as part of our family and hope she enjoys many years flying around and exploring California. CONGRATS!!!

New Private Pilot – Brian Kuhl
Sep 03 2020Date: August 17, 2020
Certification: Private Pilot
Instructor: Ivan Stanojevic
Aircraft: Citabria N9091L

New Private Pilot – Randy Rerucha
Aug 29 2020Date: June 22, 2020
Certification: Private Pilot
Instructor: Scott Holland
Aircraft: Citabria N2508Z
“I dedicate this milestone to my dad who learned to fly Champs at a young age.”

New Private Pilot – Edgar Xiong
Aug 12 2020Date: July 30, 2020
Certification: Private Pilot
Instructors: Grainne, Jason, Lynzie & Ivan
Aircraft: Citabria N9091L
“Finally a Private Pilot! (A tailwheel Private Pilot for that matter!) Took my checkride with DPE Richard Conte in my favorite citabria, N9091L.
A HUGE thank you to the wonderful folks at AeroDynamic Aviation for putting up with me these past few years and helping me achieve my dream. Now……Who wants to go fly?! ????” ~Edgar

New Tailwheel Pilot – Bill Scanlon
Jun 25 2020Date: June 25, 2020
Certification: Tailwheel Endorsement
Aircraft: Citabria N9091L
Instructor: Lynzie Hudson
Congrats to our newly minted tailwheel pilot! Bill conquered the mighty taildragger with the help of CFI Lynzie. He plans to take his son flying around California.

Newest Pilots!
Jun 25 2020Evgenii Sikachev
Date: May 20, 2020
Certification: Instrument Rating
Instructors: James Hwang, Sara Stumpf & Scott Holland
Aircraft: Cessna N98485
Alex Ambrose
Date: May 26, 2020
Certification: Private Pilot
Instructor: Cheryl Mitrus
Aircraft: Cessna N98485
Lukasz Weber
Date: June 6, 2020
Certification: Private Pilot
Instructor: Cheryl Mitrus
Aircraft: Cessna N12234
Graham Harbman
Date: June 12, 2020
Certification: Certificated Flight Instructor
Instructor: Dick Chang
Aircraft: Cessna N12234
Randy Rerucha
Date: June 22, 2020
Certification: Private Pilot
Instructor: Scott Holland
Aircraft: Citabria N9091L
Derrick Gendron
Date: June 22, 2020
Certification: Private Pilot
Instructor: Mitchell Templeton
Aircraft: Cessna N9027H

First Solo Flight – Brian Kuhl
Apr 02 2020Solo Date: March 27, 2020
Aircraft: Citabria N2508Z
Instructor: Ivan Stanojevic
Location: San Jose, CA (KRHV)
“I was introduced to aviation at a young age by my aunt and uncle who are both airline pilots. Growing up, they’ve always shared amazing stories of their adventures flying around the US. They have seen everything and have been involved with all aspects of flying- crop dusting, skydiving, glider towing, float panes in Alaska, family trips to Oshkosh, etc. At the time, I thought it was just a cool passion and career they were lucky to be involved in but it was something that seemed out of reach for me. As I’ve gotten older, I realized that there was no reason to hold these limitations on myself and that it was time for me to fly as well. My aunt’s advice was that I needed to be a real “stick and rudder” guy and that this can only be achieved in a taildragger which is why I’m at Aerodynamic today training in your Citabrias!” ~ Brian

Our Chief Instructor, Jen Watson, earns “Master CFI”
Jan 24 2020AeroDynamic’s Chief Flight Instructor, Jen Watson, has been awarded Master CFI accreditation by the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI). This distinction is held by only an average of 300 flight instructors per year!
“The NAFI Master Flight Instructor designation is a national accreditation for aviation educators that is based on a system of advanced professional standards and peer review. The designation is granted by NAFI and has two levels: the NAFI Associate Master Flight Instructor, and the NAFI Master Flight Instructor or Master Ground Instructor. These accreditation’s publicly recognize aviation educators who demonstrate an ongoing commitment to excellence, professional growth, and service to the aviation community, and they set professional standards to which all professional aviation instructors and educators can aspire.
Both levels of the accreditation process focus primarily on the individual’s training activity and evaluation of pilots as well as his or her experience—the foundations of what an instructor is able to pass along to his or her students. They emphasize active instruction and pilot evaluation, not simply taking courses or the tenure of an individual’s instructor certificate. They are not honorary awards that recognize long-time service; rather, they are recognition for the individual who continues to practice aviation education at the highest level.
Accreditation requires a rigorous process of on-going professional activity. Like a flight instructor certificate, NAFI Master Instructor accreditation’s must be renewed every 24 months to assure a dedication to continuous involvement.”