Instructor's Corner

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Sanddon Sherwood-Kopko has achieved his commercial pilot certificate! Known for his unstoppable drive and can-do attitude, Sanddon has proven he’s a force to be reckoned with both on the ground and in the air. Juggling the demands of a full-time personal training career, family life, and the rigorous training required for a commercial rating, Sanddon has shown that hard work and focus can take you anywhere. Over the course of his training, he demonstrated the precision and professionalism required to meet the high standards of a commercial pilot. Whether nailing power-off 180s, executing steep spirals, or perfecting complex air maneuvers, Sanddon has been relentless in fine-tuning his skills. His ability to stay calm under pressure and adapt to new challenges has been nothing short of impressive. All of this wouldn’t have been possible without the guidance of his instructor, Nathan Morin, whose expertise and dedication played a key role in Sanddon’s success. Together, they’ve worked tirelessly to make this goal a reality. Congratulations, Sanddon! We can’t wait to see where your journey takes you next. ​
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Batter up! Maks Barger has stepped onto the field and knocked his checkride out of the park by earning his Private Pilot License! This aviation all-star has been putting in the work to climb the ranks. With the Reno Air Race Association scholarship backing him, Maks brought his A-game to every lesson, demonstrating focus and determination worthy of a true pro. Whether it was mastering steep turns or drilling in his ground knowledge, Maks approached each challenge like a seasoned player, making it clear he was destined for the majors of aviation. When Maks isn’t acing his flight training, you can find him playing baseball (could you tell?), grinding out his schoolwork, or enjoying a good burger. With all this said, no champion achieves greatness alone. Let’s give a huge shoutout to Maks’s instructor, Ryan Mill, for being the ultimate coach, guiding him through every inning of his training and ensuring he was ready to crush his checkride. Maks, you’ve proven that when you step up to the plate, it’s a guaranteed home run. Congratulations on this incredible achievement—you’ve earned it! Now, take a victory lap at pattern altitude, because the skies are your new ballpark.
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Holden Stone, a true wizard on a surfboard, has taken his mastery of the waves and channeled that same skill, precision, and adventurous spirit into the skies. Today, Holden soared to new heights by earning his private pilot license! Originally from Lahaina, Hawaii, his island roots shine through in his laid-back demeanor and fearless pursuit of challenges. Holden is more than just a pilot. As you’ve read, he's a pro at surfing, a master at Jiu Jitsu, a talented musician (who we’ve heard once played in a surf rock band), and a devoted husband and father. Whether riding waves, honing his skills, or spending time with family, Holden approaches everything in his life with dedication and passion. We’re super exited to celebrate Holden’s hard work and determination that have propelled him to incredible achievements. It’s a testament to his drive and willingness to embrace every challenge. A big mahalo to his instructor, Ryan Mill, for guiding Holden on this amazing journey. Your support has been key to his success. Congratulations to the both of you! Now, get out there and fly your heart out, Holden!
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Grab your gear, pet your dalmatian, and slide down the fireman pole, because Kyle Brazil flew to success today and earned his private pilot license! If you couldn’t tell, Kyle is a local firefighter who’s always ready to save the day, but when he’s not responding to emergencies, he’s been moonlighting as a flight student here at GBA. While his passion for flying and firefighting is clear, Kyle’s also jokingly told us that his real dream is to be an underwater basket weaver when he grows up... just kidding 😉 or maybe not, but hey, whatever the case we’ll let him dream! When he’s not working tirelessly towards his flight goals, Kyle spends time with his wonderful family, cooks up something delicious for his wife, and learns the ropes of parenthood. Let’s give a huge congratulations to Kyle and his flight instructor, Grant Muzzio, who’s helped guide him to this incredible achievement. We couldn’t be more proud of you, Kyle, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for you in your aviation adventure. Awesome job, Kyle! Keep up the amazing work!
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⭐️ELLIOT FEHR⭐️ Elliot Fehr is GBA’s November pilot of the month! Geez, this guy again? I mean, I guess he deserves it but still (hehe, just kidding!). Elliot Fehr is one incredible individual. From being a tech wizard, a master baker (regardless of if I’ve yet to receive any bread… the audacity of some people), a meat head- I mean, a regular gym bro, and obviously a Maverick in the airplane. We love to give Elliot a hard time, but we’re super excited to recognize all of his incredible effort that he’s been putting into his training. If he’s not flying, he's either on the ground with his instructor, practicing hard for his written exam, or daydreaming of when the weather will clear out so he can take to the skies again. Let’s give this awesome aviator a huge round of applause in earning this incredible achievement! Don’t make us regret it Elliot… okay I’m dome now 😁 (I promise he’s a good student!).

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What to do when weather clears? Take a checkride! Andy Glenn was at it again and is now an instrument rated pilot! Our tee-rific line tech has added yet another impressive skill: flying in the clouds! From fairways to flight plans, Andy’s dedication to precision is second to none. He approached his instrument training with the same focus and determination he brings to every round of golf—because when you’ve mastered the green (needles), navigating the skies is just the next natural step! And we can’t forget to shout out Andy’s amazing partner-in-crime, CFII Nathan Morin, who has been right there with him every step of the way. Great job, you two! Take a moment to savor your success, then get on the next goal – Commercial Pilot certification! On to bigger skies and, hopefully, more hole-in-ones! ​
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The man, the legend, the hair (yes, his instructor is just a little jealous). Congratulations to Greg Anthenian on earning his Certified Flight Instructor rating! Greg is the most recent member to join the Zero to CFI club at GBA and has been with us from the very beginning, earning every rating with us! We couldn’t be more proud. What a milestone! From the moment he walked in asking about a Discovery Flight with his legendary locks, Greg’s charisma and drive were undeniable. Balancing a full-time job, long commutes from the lake, and rigorous study sessions, Greg blasted through his ratings and is now ready to teach others to soar. His dedication and self-discipline are exactly what it takes. Uder the expert guidance of Richard Brong, his CFI with slightly more follicle challenges , Greg’s hard work has paid off. Here’s to you Greg!! We can’t wait to see you inspire the next generation of pilots!
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Elliot Fehr reached a significant milestone today by completing his first solo flight at the illustrious KRNO on runway 17L in N37JA! As the people in Elliot’s life know, Elliot is an incredible individual with a diverse range of talents and passions. From perfecting the art of his master baking and apparently not sharing any with us (I want some bread, Elliot!), flaunting his tech-savvy genius with practical website advice, hitting the gym hard and getting all the gains, and spending his free time with his furry friend, Oscar. However, after today that’s not all! Elliot’s the kind of guy who always seems to be up to something, and as of late, that new something has been flight training! Well, with today’s success in the history books, I think it’s safe to say that he’s well on his way to the coveted title of Private Pilot! Let’s give Elliot and his flight instructor, Andrew Spanier, a huge congratulations on this amazing accomplishment! Awesome work you two… now get your written done, Elliot, or the wrath of Hailey and Nicole will soon come to greet you (just kidding… maybe 😉).
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GBA’s prime time troublemaker, master of creating perfect storms, certified adventurer, and admirer of his thumbs (I promise I’ll explain), Nick Sundstrom now has another uhhh achievement (?) to add to his growing list: instrument rated pilot! That’s right folks, somehow Nick did it, and while we like to give him a hard time, Nick has been putting in an incredible amount of work to get to this point. Traveling across the United States from Reno to Philly in his family’s RV, Nick had the invaluable experience of seeing nothing the entire time as he was under the foggles with his flight instructor, Ryan Mill, who of course was enjoying the views for him. To say the least, Nick has seen the value of instrument flying and we’re not the slightest bit surprised that he passed with flying colors today! A fun fact about Nick Sundstrom, while he’s out adventuring the great outdoors through skiing, mountain biking, and mountain climbing, you’ll often find him staring at his thumbs. Well, why you may ask? Nick apparently has double jointed thumbs and it’s his favorite quality about himself… just thought you should know :) … Anywayyyy, let’s give a huge congratulations to Nick and Ryan on this incredible accomplishment! Keep it up, Nick!
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