​Is it a bird? Is it a plane? … well, kind of. But more importantly, it’s Tim Adams! And as the picture depicts, he soared to new heights today and passed his private pilot checkride! While apparently a freak of nature, Tim came in calm and ready. From navigating the ins and outs of his oral to flaunting his impressive 10-inch checkride binder (an exaggeration of course, but in a way not so much), Tim was ready to beat the heat and get his ride done. And to no one’s surprise, the GBA pilot of the month alumni brought it home to victory. I mean, what more can you expect from an endodontist but perfection and precision. We’ve been told that Tim does have a life outside of flying and loves to embrace his inner bigfoot by going backpacking, fishing, rock climbing, hunting, mountaineering, and everything else in between. Excellent work, Tim! And a huge round of applause to his CFIs Ryan Mill and Danny Britson who’ve both helped Tim reach this amazing accomplishment. You’ve both made this avid aviator’s dream take flight! Impressive work, Tim… now let’s talk about that airplane you’re eyeballing 😉

Colin Powell is now a commercial pilot! This awesome pilot and equally impressive mixologist powered through his certificates and ratings faster than a bartender can shake up a martini, and now he can legally get paid to fly the friendly skies. This guy’s been mixing hard work with dedication, and it’s finally paid off – he's ready to serve up some smooth flights! From pouring over flight manuals to shaking off the stress of exams, Colin has been the ultimate barback in the aviation world, always ready to roll up his sleeves and get the job done. Now, he's behind the controls, ready to take your travel experience to first-class levels. Huge cheers to his CFI, Ryan Mill, the master mixologist behind Colin’s success. Ryan has been the steady hand guiding this cocktail of talent and determination, and together they've shaken up the aviation scene. Raise your glasses (or flight controls) for Colin! Keep those flights smooth, those landings neat, and never stop reaching for the top shelf of the skies! ​

Greg Anthenien is now a commercial pilot!! From the moment he strutted into the office inquiring about a Discovery Flight with his luscious locks, Greg was voted "Best Hair," and he’s kept that title without a single split end. But it’s not just his fabulous hair that’s impressive. Greg works full-time, drives in from the lake, and continues to blast through his ratings faster than you can say "conditioner.” Greg’s journey is a testament to his dedication and resilience. Balancing work, long commutes, and intense study sessions, he’s proven that he’s got the grit to match his glamour. His determination is as strong as his conditioner game, ensuring he’s always looking sharp, whether in the cockpit or on the ground. While Greg is making his aviation dreams a reality, he’s also got a backup plan that’s equally epic: becoming the best Pokémon trainer there ever was. With Pikachu by his side, Greg’s ready for any adventure that comes his way. But we’re confident the piloting thing is going to work out just fine – those skies won’t know what hit them! Huge congratulations to Greg and his incredible CFI Nathan Morin, the mastermind behind this hair-raising success story. Nathan’s guidance and expertise have been instrumental in helping Greg achieve this milestone, proving that with the right mentor, even the loftiest goals are within reach. Next stop, CFI! Raise your glasses (or hairbrushes) for Greg! Keep those flights smooth and those locks flowing!

Bryson Gay, GBA’s student pilot/metalhead, soloed!! That’s right, he absolutely rocked KRTS runway 26 in N670CS like a true metal legend. Bryson has been headbanging his way through training, working relentlessly to hit this major milestone, and today, his hard work finally hit all the right notes. But Bryson is no stranger to hard work – he's one of Great Basin Aviation's top plane washers, coming in a few times a month to ensure your planes shine like a freshly polished guitar before a gig. Bryson's dedication is as hardcore as a double bass pedal solo, and his commitment to keeping our planes pristine shows he's not just a rock star in the cockpit but also on the ground. Huge shoutout to his CFI Alex Spencer, the ultimate lead guitarist in this epic aviation band, for guiding Bryson through his journey to the top of the charts! Today, Bryson took to the skies and showed us all what it means to rock and roll. Keep those wings shredding and those engines roaring, Bryson! You're flying high now – keep rocking those skies! ​

While we were all holed up indoors enjoying some A/C during this first hot day in Reno, Couper was soaring to new heights on 17L at KRNO in N37JA. No need to sweat—leave that to the instructor watching from the ramp! Couper, our future Air Force Aviator, gave the tower a show as he imagined himself behind the controls of his future ride, an F-22 Raptor. For now, he'll have to settle for the "fighter jet" of flight training—a C172, zooming through the skies with style and precision. This solo flight is just the beginning for Couper. His determination and skill have already set him on a flight path toward greatness, Air Force Academy and beyond. We can already see him carving through the clouds, performing aerial acrobatics, and mastering the skies in his future Air Force career. Stay tuned—you'll hear more about Couper before he launches into his next big adventure later this summer. This young aviator is destined for great things; we couldn't be prouder! Awesome job, Couper! Great job as well to his CFI, Eric Harned!

​Big congrats to Chris Pozarski on his first solo flight! Chris Pozarski just soloed at KRNO, runway 17L, in N37JA! Chris has an incredible spirit and work ethic, and he’s managed to master this amazing milestone despite his busy schedule. When he’s not flying, you can find him rolling and grappling on the Jiu Jitsu mats! Chris’s journey to his first solo flight has been marked by incredible focus and finesse. Just like in Jiu Jitsu, where he expertly navigates through holds and submissions, Chris has applied the same level of concentration and precision to his flight training. His dedication, both in the cockpit and on the mats, is truly inspiring. You’ve choked out every challenge and arm-barred every obstacle in your path to reach this point. Keep flying high, and keep rolling strong! Huge shoutout to his CFI, Alex Spencer, for being an awesome coach both in the sky and on the ground! Here’s to many more successful flights! The sky’s the limit for you, Chris! Keep up the fantastic work and continue to soar!

​Congratulations to Andrew Spanier on earning his CFII! Andrew, our instructor with the perfect locks, now has an extra fancy acronym on his business cards! Not too bad for a flight instructor by day and accountant by night. If you’ve attended the Monday night study groups he leads, you already know and love (or kinda like) him – and if you haven’t, you’re missing out on some top-notch aviation wisdom (and probably some excel spreadsheet tips). Andrew has been with Great Basin Aviation from the beginning, and his story is one of determination and perseverance. He was working full-time as an accountant, helping out on the line on weekends, and leaving some DNA on a flap edge, he was here any free moment he had. And look at him now – living the aviation dream, teaching all of you, whether it be in ground or flight, and looking good while doing it! His story inspires us all, proving that with hard work and passion, you can truly soar to new heights. Huge shoutout to Andrew and a big thanks to his CFII, Richard Brong, for helping him achieve this milestone. We can't wait to see what's next for Andrew – maybe another acronym or two?