The GBA Summer Newsletter is hot off the press! Check it out for lots of great info, successes, and need-to-knows. 📰

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​Smoke got ya down? Not Adam Alexander! With that familiar fire in his eyes, Adam took to N2291C this morning and soloed at KRTS on runway 8! When he’s not showing off his stuff as a student pilot, you can find Adam volunteering as a firefighter, working on school, or clocking into his shift, and if all of that wasn’t enough for one person already, Adam is from Quincy, California, and makes the commute to Reno to fly with his favorite flight school every week. This committed aviator always comes to his flights on time and prepared, and it’s no surprise to see him achieve this amazing accomplishment. Congratulations to Adam and his instructor Matthew Helleckson on this successful milestone! The hard work is paying off!

Another Pilot of the Month soloed today!! Justin Pedersen, July’s Pilot of the Month (see below), soloed his favorite plane N328ME at KRTS, runway 26, this morning. A few laps enjoying a solo cockpit went by too quick, but he eventually taxied back and picked up his CFI Austin White. Justin is a RARA Scholarship recipient that is on the fast track for his PPL. Except, he has to hold short a bit waiting on his 17th birthday. Be ready for his private pilot email the end of November. Even though he uses an Android and wears Trix Crocs, we still think he is pretty awesome! Huge congratulations for Justin and Austin!  

⭐️JUSTIN PEDERSEN⭐️ Justin is our July pilot of the month! He has continually impressed his CFI with his study habits at home. He shows up to lessons with an in-depth knowledge of the topics they are going to cover that day, making it extremely easy to progress through topics quickly. He may hate waking up early but he makes it to all of his lessons early and prepared. Justin already has the attitude of a pilot. His CFI told him he was getting low and he blamed the CFI for adding nose down trim. Not the fact that they were at power idle.🙄 He makes checklists interesting, since they have to ensure the instruments and engine gauges are “chillin.” Awesome job on solo and Pilot of the Month Justin!!

If you’re thinking, “I feel like I’ve seen this guy before?” then you’re absolutely right! With that glorious hair, how could anyone miss him?! Greg Anthenien, May’s Student Pilot of the Month is officially a soloed pilot! With the stakes high, Greg Anthenien came into the office this morning calm and collected, with his sights set on his victory doughnut. After some practice laps at KRNO with his instructor, Chazz Sandoval, it was time to set Greg loose. With three beautiful landings and one of the most beautiful patterns office manager Hailey Bogle has ever seen (she’s always watching), Greg successfully soloed at KRNO on runway 16L in N495SP! Huge congratulations to Greg Anthenien and his instructor Chazz Sandoval on this amazing accomplishment! Keep it up!

So…”someone" passed a private pilot checkride today!! "He who shall not be named" hates the spotlight more than he hates us talking about his past career choices. He insisted on no email or pictures, but obviously, we do not listen. You can see his name in the office. “International man of mystery" flew N292ED with ease and precision despite the thermally air, heat, and afternoon winds. While we are trying to respect his wishes and not make a big deal about it, it is a big deal!!! Obtaining your private pilot certificate is without a doubt a wonderful investment in yourself. Now, “Mr. X” can enjoy his freedom and take his amazing wife on some awesome adventures, as well as start working on that next step, the instrument rating. And making us more carrot cake :) Huge congratulations to “Cryptonymous” and his CFI (who can be named), Kurtis Hornung! Awesome job guys!!

Well, not to be outdone by his already licensed pilot sister Katie, the one who soloed before him by a day, Gabe Newberry got ‘er done and earned his Private Pilot’s License. Today he took N495SP up with his examiner and showed him what a good pilot he is. Better than his sis? We won’t go into that debate here but I’m sure if you live close, you’ll hear heated debate in the neighborhood. Gabe had to pause his training after deployment with the Nevada Air National Guard but got back in full swing after his return. Aviation talent runs in the family. Congratulations on your accomplishment! Nice work to your instructor, Chazz, for getting you wrapped up. Go fly!

Today as clouds built and the thermometer soared, Seth Friedman-Peel made the astute decision to go earn his Certified Flight Instructor certificate. This pilot made the wise choice to get things going early and set up class, stormed on through, and then took N292ED on a check-ride to teach from the right seat. With the confidence needed to teach others to master the skies, Seth got the job done and done well! Congratulations to Seth, and his instructor Bob, on this major milestone. Now to enjoy that little open air plane of yours before diving in head first! We’ll refill the mints.