Instructor's Corner

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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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Everybody, let me introduce you to the man, the myth, the legend: Taylor Pritchard. Taylor is truly the man of a million faces. From being a master at the game, GeoGuesser, racing his bicycle competitively like a maniac, to being a proud dog dad of his adorable dachshund puppy, Minnie, there’s truly no predicting the beast that is Taylor. But that’s not all. Taylor has now added another mask to his collection: instrument rated pilot! That’s right everyone, Taylor has dominated the instrument world with flying colors and can now soar gracefully through the clouds! Having had the passion to fly since youth, Taylor has been chasing his goals of becoming a professional pilot with an incredible amount of drive and tenacity. He’s spent countless hours in his simulator and has been a flying fool since starting up his training. It’s safe to say that Taylor is truly an unstoppable force. Let’s give Taylor a huge congratulations on this incredible accomplishment and a huge shutout to his instructor, Nathan Morin, who has helped Taylor along the way to mastering his craft. Awesome work to the both of you! We have no doubt you’ll be seeing more of Taylor in the future 😉!
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⭐️HAYLI STEWART⭐️ Hayli Stewart is GBA’s October pilot of the month! What better candidate for the spooky season than the gremlin who steals all of GBA’s candy… you can’t hide from us Hayli! What are all those wrappers doing in your purse and where did they come from 🤨! Not only is today a special day for Hayli because she earned the highly regarded GBA Pilot of the Month award, but today she also had her first unassisted landing! We have word from her instructor that it was actually a good landing too… there was only one missing tire when she got back (just kidding 😉). Hayli’s been scaling mountains, grinding out her ground school, and flying like the madwoman she is. Let’s give this incredible aviatrix a huge congratulations for all of her incredible progress and hard work towards her flight training! We have no doubt that she’ll continue to impress us as she approaches solo flight and eventually conquers the notorious private pilot checkride. Bravo, Hayli!! Get out there and fly!
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John Hamilton has officially dominated the skies has he soloed at KRNO on rwy 17L in N752DW! ​ This recipient of the prestigious Reno Air Race Association scholarship has been skillfully balancing school and flight training, and today, all his hard work paid off. His first solo was nothing short of spectacular, and we couldn't be more excited for him. John's love for aviation shines through every flight, and his dedication to improving is inspiring. With school on one hand and flight training on the other, he's been navigating both like a pro, proving he’s got what it takes to soar to new heights. A huge thank you goes out to his instructor, Eric Harned, for guiding John on this incredible journey. It’s no small task to help someone spread their wings, but Eric’s support and teaching have truly made a difference. John, you’ve proven today that you’re ready to take on the skies solo, and we can’t wait to see where your journey takes you next. Congratulations! Private pilot is just on the horizon!
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Known for tearing up the trails on his snowmobile, cruising the water by boat, and hitting the open road on his motorcycle, Levi Pence is no stranger to adventure. But today, his latest joyride took him to literal new heights as he successfully passed his checkride and became a private pilot! I mean… it’s actually pretty amazing. How many people can say they’ve dominated the realms of water, land, and air? Whether it’s the waves, the snow, or the atmosphere, there’s truly no terrain that can keep Levi at bay. And as if Levi wasn’t already a master of all things machines, he also shows his precision and expertise in automotive painting! It’s no surprise that Levi is a pretty amazing guy, and it’s even less surprising that he passed his checkride with flying colors. Let’s give a huge congratulations to Levi and his flight instructor, Shane Smith, who walked this path with Levi every step of the way. Amazing work you two! Levi, keep making the impossible, possible. We are so excited to see you take to the skies!
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Cool as a cucumber and as chill as a brand-new air-conditioning unit… Kurt Finney blew us away with this achievement! While Kurt’s been turning up the heat as an air conditioning salesman (hence the terrible puns), he’s also been soaring to even cooler heights (because, you know, temperature decreases with altitude... okay I give up), and today, he soloed in N495SP at KRTS on rwy 26!!! If anyone knows how to stay cool under pressure, it’s the one and only Kurt Finney. From earning the coveted GBA Pilot of the Month award, crushing his written exam, and even holding the prestigious title of ultimate nose licker (rumor has it he can touch his nose with his tongue), Kurt proves time and time again that he can put in the work and make it count. Let’s give a huge congratulations to Kurt on this incredible milestone and a massive shoutout to his flight instructor, Grant Muzzio, for keeping things breezy during Kurt’s training—Grant really knows how to fan the flames of success while keeping everyone cool! Can’t wait to see where the skies take you next, Kurt! Awesome work today!
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A big congratulations to Ryan Pavey who recently earned his Certified Flight Instructor rating! Hailing from sunny California, Ryan’s aviation journey has taken him across the Sierra Nevada and into the heart of the Biggest Little City. With a clear goal to conquer the challenging CFI checkride, Ryan completed the final stretch of his training with CFI, Danny Britson, and his hard work paid off! The CFI checkride is famously one of the most demanding tests a pilot can face, but Ryan approached it with determination and came out on top. Now, with his instructor certificate in hand, Ryan is ready to embark on an exciting new chapter—sharing his passion for flying with others. Let’s give a huge congratulations to Ryan and his CFI, Danny Britson on this amazing accomplishment! Here's to Ryan as he helps shape the next generation of pilots! Amazing work you two!!
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Hmmmmm yes… calculating, computing, analyzing…. I’ve come to the conclusion that Kurtis Lemay, pilot extraordinaire and computer science engineering student, has successfully passed his commercial checkride! With his stellar performance in the cockpit, Kurtis demonstrated he can truly “engineer” his way through any flight maneuver. From mastering mind-numbing commercial regulations to nailing his maneuvers and landings, he executed each task with the finesse of a well-tuned engine. Now that he’s cleared for commercial flight, Kurtis is poised to take his career to new heights—literally! When this stellar pilot isn’t flaunting his blond hair, pursuing his degree at UNR, and flying nonstop, you can find him bringing life to the smaller things with his passion for photography and traveling the world. With his love for aviation and engineering, there’s no doubt he’ll be “propelling” himself toward success in whatever airspace he decides to navigate to next. Let’s give Kurtis and his professor- I mean flight instructor, Shane Smith, a huge congratulations, on this incredible milestone! Kurtis, may your future flights be as smooth as a perfectly engineered wing and your dreams soar higher than any altitude!
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If there’s another person on the planet that challenges Taylor Swift for her traveling, it has to be the renowned Alex Crupi. From juggling the high travel demands of his job to pursuing his own flight training in good ol’ Reno, NV, Alex has been a nonstop flying machine! And today, all those miles have finally paid off. Alex no longer has to daydream about becoming a pilot because today he made his dreams a reality and earned his private pilot certificate! Alex’s interest for flying all began while making his commute to work… you know while coasting at 35,000 feet in a commercial aircraft, naturally. I think it goes without saying that Alex has hardly been a stranger to aviation. Putting everything he learned to the test, Alex came out successful and now can fly when the sky calls, not when his work schedule does. When Alex isn’t working and flying to his heart’s content, you can find him exploring the great outdoors, enjoying a good bite, or spending time with friends and family. Huge congratulations to Alex and his flight instructor, Grant Muzzio, on this incredible accomplishment! Get up there and fly!
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Chris Pozarski has stepped onto the mat, ready to face his latest opponent: the Private Pilot checkride. While a daunting task, Chris knows from both his Jiu Jitsu and flight training that no matter the size of the challenge, every opponent can be neutralized with the right strategy and mindset. And conquer away he did! Chris—burly, focused, and determined—obliterated his checkride today, officially becoming a private pilot!! He started out strong by passing the oral exam, demonstrating his knowledge and control, much like setting up for the perfect takedown. Then, in the air, Chris showcased smooth, precise technique, executing each maneuver like a submission on the mat. When his wheels touched down at KRNO, it was clear: he didn’t just pass—he dominated, like a clean sweep in competition. Chris, you've been putting in the hours in the cockpit and on the mat, and your hard work has paid off. Huge congratulations! Let’s also give a big shoutout to your coach/flight instructor, Alex Spencer, who has skillfully guided you to victory. Fantastic job to both of you—and a big “Oss!” for this incredible milestone!
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