What to do on a Saturday? Earn your Private Pilot’s License, of course. That’s what! Today Gustavo completed his PPL check-ride with flying colors and brought N328ME back to a successful finish. With conditions starting to deteriorate, this skillful pilot demonstrated what it takes to meet the Airman Certification Standards. Now, the hard part is deciding where to go. The world has just opened up! I hear an instrument rating will be in the future but for now, does anyone need a skilled safety pilot? Nice work Gustavo! Congratulations are in order to you and your instructor, Kurtis.

One more checkride to finish off this hot Wednesday...Our favorite former NASA cyber security rocket man turned pilot is now officially a certificated pilot!!! Greg Rudman took to the bumpy Northern Nevada skies this afternoon and demonstrated he has all the private pilot skills, staying within his tolerances as mother nature gave him some afternoon thermals and wind. Greg’s name might sound familiar being he soloed less than two months ago. Talk about dedication!! This technically savvy, detail oriented pilot Greg works full time in cyber security and still makes time to come in for those 5 and 6am flights. Greg’s focus to earning his certificates and ratings is commendable. Before we got his picture he was already asking about starting instrument ground school…first we are making him take a night off. Then, after he takes his parents on his inaugural certificate pilot flight, he will hit it heavy on the next task. Huge congratulations to Greg and his CFI Jack Darlington!! The Greg/Jack team were two for two today. Nice job guys 🎉 ​

​For today's physics lesson, E=W/Q and E=IR. Voltages in a series circuit add. How does that relate to flying and Jack Darlington earning his CFII certificate today? Well, when you take the electromotive force and consider the low resistance Jack gives to learning this stuff, the energy he brings to aviation keeps growing higher and higher! Today, Jack popped the breakers on the next level of his flight instructor privileges after an electrifying oral. The complex circuitry of N2291C is none the worse for wear even. The skies can now be even safer with Jack being able to work with instrument students! Congrats to Jack and his instructor Richard on this milestone. Oh, yeah, they’re both electric car drivers - and Jenn just rolled here eyeballs again. Nice work, Jack!

What an awesome start to a Wednesday! This morning Jordan Frost was able to add commercial single engine pilot to his list of accomplishments as he passed his checkride!! Jordan is no stranger to the sky as he was already a commercial multi-engine pilot, but today he showed he only needs one engine to perform commercial maneuvers. Getting out before the wind and heat come in, Jordan and the examiner flew N670CS around the practice area and KRTS steep spiraling and landing short (plus all the other fun maneuvers). This UNR guy is building time to get to a survey spot then crossing his fingers for cargo or airlines. Based on his progression and focus, his goal will be hit in no time. Plus, as you can tell from his picture, he excels at his post flight checklist: chocks, sunshade, pitot tube cover, master off :) Jordan can also celebrate he finally gets a break from his CFI Cody Lucero and now explore more of Northern Nevada with some fun flying. Huge congratulations to Jordan and Cody! ​

At 0600 most people were sleeping or sipping coffee but Peyton Holmes is not like most people. She set off early this morning with her CFI, Troy Ware, well prepared for her most memorable flight.  This awesome aviatrix soloed N405SP this morning at KRTS, runway 26 all before pylon school started up. Peyton’s first solo is now in the log book! A milestone both coveted and a little feared. But, once it happens, which I am sure Peyton can attest too, she is enjoying some relief, euphoria, and excitement! Peyton is no stranger to aviation being she has worked at the airport for the airlines and now one of the FBOs for the last couple years. She lives, eats, and sleeps this stuff and her passion shows in her commitment. Huge accomplishment as the door now opens to explore Northern Nevada from the sky on her own. Wonderful work to Peyton and Troy!! Not sure how the day can get any better :) ​

Someone took the day off from wakeboarding to earn his instrument rating! That’s right, no Fakies or Bunny-Hops for Ryan Mill today, his complete focus was on navigating N752DW while under the foggles. Ryan grasped the rigorous 141 curriculum and showed the examiner he has all the right stuff to fly in less than ideal visual flight conditions. A little warm and bumpy up there but that did not stop this boarder from successful checkride completion. Ryan is a go-getter and on course to have his commercial certificate within a few months. We will let him take a little break (the rest of today) then back at it tomorrow :) Awesome job to Ryan and his CFII Kurtis Hornung!