​Anthony Marrone soloed!! He took full advantage of this afternoon’s little break in the weather and gave the RNO tower a show soloing on 17L in N37JA. Nothing feels better than those first few laps of freedom. Anthony drives down from the lake three days a week in between ground school studies, full-time restaurant management, and teaching a ceramics class. His work ethic is totally kiln it ;) It has been great watching Anthony progress and we are excited to now send him off solo for a bit and really explore how awesome aviation is, “seize the clay” some might say. Huge congratulations to Anthony and his CFI Kurtis Hornung!! Keep up the awesome work. 

​The pride of Quincy, Adam Alexander, is now a Private Pilot! Adam demonstrated all required maneuvers and skills this morning, just in time for Christmas! This young man is goal driven and a go-getter. First, he drives in from the Quincy area for his flight training and is also a volunteer firefighter/EMT for Meadow Valley Volunteer Fire Department, and a senior in high school. So much for kicking back and relaxing through his senior year. He used his flight training as his senior project. Something tells me he will get an “A.” The busyness does not stop here. Adam was accepted into Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and will continue his flight training and a degree in aeronautical science starting next fall. More accomplishments coming his way. A direct result of his amazing work ethic. Huge congratulations Adam!! You should be super proud of yourself. Great job as well to his CFI Matt Helleckson! 

​Alexander Grant is a private pilot!! Our favorite Trader Joes crew member now is certificated to fly the friendly skies - all in perfect timing too! Alexander is taking off in a few weeks to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. He is going to join those who have been defining the scientific and technological advances in our world. First request (not that we are selfish), redesign the Cessna 172 cowl for easier removal and replacement 😊  It is amazing what Alex has accomplished with working full time, flying, and his studies. Always in a great mood even when the office gives him a hard time over Trader Joes orange chicken being out of stock. This is a huge accomplishment but it is just the beginning in a long list of success coming his way. Huge congratulations to Alexander and his CFI Chazz!

Gonna catch a flight to Nevada. Leave his friends at home in L.A. Seven come eleven or blackjack. Gambling night and day! Well, Ben Roller isn’t exactly the person April Wine was singing about in their song, Roller, but we sure were singing his praises today! Ben soloed N328ME up at Stead! Granted, rolling the dice for some clear (enough) weather today might have made this talented pilot a tad nervous but he beat the odds! Ben found out that tossing your instructor out into the chilly cold really gives that airplane an extra boost in this cold winter air! Nice job Ben and nice job to your instructor Matt Helleckson. Off to get that PPL wrapped up!

The smile says it all! To cap off quite the Tuesday, Rob Roderick successfully completed his Private Pilot Checkride in N752DW. With a few stalls here, a couple of ground ref’s there, Rob received the coveted “thumbs up” and is now a licensed pilot. This Finance and Marketing expert let his skills speak for themselves today. Now to find a destination beyond the neighborhood to venture out for the proverbial hundred dollar hamburger! We are proud of your accomplishments. Congratulations to you and your CFI, Chazz!

Talk about a fluid situation! Today Daniel Newton, our resident hydrologist, took the laminar flow during today’s calm winds and flew N328ME during his first solo on Runway 27 in Carson City. Although today’s observation of Bernoulli’s Principle pertained to gaseous fluids as opposed to liquid water, that didn’t stop Dan one bit. Congratulations for realizing the potential energy in this situation and making it happen! Congrats to your CFI, Jack, too. See you at the river delta soon enough! (Translation: Dan soloed today).

Greg Rudman is a Commercial Pilot!! Another hard charging 141 candidate showed off his commercial pilot knowledge this morning and was quickly through the oral exam. He then took the examiner for a ride (granted there was a lot more to it than that) in N421RW over beautiful snow-covered Northern Nevada. Then once he was back in KRNO he heard those congratulatory words, “You passed!” Greg is an inspiration for sure. Ten months from zero hours to commercial aviator all while working full time-plus in his high tech, high demand Cyber Security job. Honestly, we really do not know what he does as it’s one of those top secret, tell us but he has to kill us sort of jobs. Greg is already digging right into his CFI work so watch for another email about his success soon. Way to set the bar Greg! Huge congratulation to Greg and his CFI Jack Darlington!

**He might hate us for his picture. Greg dressed up as an airplane for Girl's in Aviation Day last September...we have to show him off :)