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Big congrats to Cody Bullard, who just rocked his solo flight in N670CS at KSPZ! Cody’s no rookie when it comes to aviation—he’s been flying helicopters for the Army National Guard for years. But now, he’s trading rotors for wings as he adds a fixed-wing rating to his already impressive résumé. Honestly, Cody is basically an aviation wizard. Flying helicopters? Check. Getting a degree in mechanical engineering? Check. Crushing his fixed-wing training? Double-check. It’s no surprise that he’s made it this far, but it’s still awesome to see him hitting new heights—literally and figuratively. This solo is a huge milestone and proof of Cody’s passion and dedication to flying. Whether it’s a helicopter or an airplane, Cody’s skills and determination make it clear that the sky is where he belongs. Shoutout to Cody’s instructor, Ryan Mill, for helping guide him through this journey. Ryan, you’re the MVP! Cody, we’re so excited to see what’s next for you. Whether it’s in the air or on the ground, you’re absolutely crushing it. Keep flying high, and congrats again on this epic milestone! 
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Today is the day, everyone—the talented and ever-humble Ben Benesch aced his private pilot checkride! True to form, Ben’s quiet demeanor means you probably wouldn’t have heard about his achievement if we didn’t shout it from the rooftops for him. But milestones like this deserve to be celebrated, and we’re so thrilled to share this incredible accomplishment with Ben today. While the C172 became his trusty training partner here at GBA, Ben tackled every challenge with determination and grit, mastering the finer points of the airplane along the way. That said, his heart has always belonged to tailwheel flying. With his private pilot license in hand, we have no doubt that he can’t wait to return to the skies in his own plane. Ben, your hard work and dedication have paid off, and we’re so incredibly proud of you for reaching this milestone. Let’s give a huge congratulations to Ben and his flight instructor, James Morgan, for being part coach, part cheerleader, and full-time mentor throughout this journey. Congratulations, Ben—we can’t wait to see where this license takes you and how you continue to soar to new heights!  Move over, Jason Bourne—there’s a new agent in town, and his code name is Dorn… Jason Dorn. Today’s a big day for this secret-agent-undercover-flight-student because Jason has officially earned his private pilot license! Armed with sharp skills, quick intuition, and a calm demeanor under pressure, Jason has completed his most recent mission with flying colors, cementing his reputation as a top-tier aviator (and possibly an international man of mystery). Whether he’s dodging turbulence or executing flawless landings, Jason makes it all look effortless—like he’s got a classified flight manual the rest of us aren’t privy to. Jason is an incredible aviator and we’re so happy to share this incredible accomplishment with him. Let’s give Jason and his flight instructor, Ryan Mill, a huge congratulations on this achievement! Ryan, your training methods deserve their own classified file. When Jason isn’t moonlighting as a secret agent or flying at GBA, you can find him skiing black diamonds, running like a gazelle, and dabbling with some photography. Congratulations on this epic milestone, Jason! Now go forth and dominate the skies like the secret agent we all suspect you might be.  ⭐️NICK SUNDSTROM⭐️ Nick Sundstrom is GBA’s December pilot of the month! Ladies and gentlemen, today is a special day because Nick’s finally done it. Nick has been eyeing this honor for a while now, and with his hard work, dedication, and persistence (I don’t want to say he begged, but it was borderline) he’s more than earned this month’s pilot of the month slot. To start, Nick has checked off some impressive milestones with GBA. Since the very beginnings of solo, Nick has also since earned his private pilot and instrument rating with GBA and has been working diligently on his commercial training. His focus and commitment to becoming a professional pilot are truly remarkable and it’s been an absolute privilege to watch him progress through his training. When Nick’s not flying with GBA, you can find him… flying (get a life Nick, just kidding 😉) around the area in his family’s RV, enjoying the ski slopes, or mountain biking. We love giving Nick a hard time, but it’s only because he’s such an exceptional student and a fantastic part of GBA. Awesome work, Nick! We can’t wait to see what you do next!  Justin Cooper has officially made the leap from a dad playing dress-up to a high-flying professional pilot! While he spends his days as an electrician and his weekends hosting the most exclusive tea parties in town for his daughters, Justin has proven he can balance it all—glamorous gowns (courtesy of his daughters) and now, a commercial aviation career. Known for his ability to hold a teacup with pinky-out precision, Justin’s true talents extend beyond his modeling career. When he’s not busy being the star of the dress-up runway, he’s hunting, camping, and, of course, flying. But make no mistake—this commercial license wasn’t handed to him on a silver platter. His journey to earning this commercial license has been anything but easy, requiring him to juggle family life, a full-time job, and intensive flight training with grace and precision. Let’s give a huge congratulations to Justin and his instructor, Ryan Mill, on this incredible accomplishment! Justin, may your flights be as smooth as a well-hosted tea party and as rewarding as your daughters declaring you as The Best Dad Ever. Awesome work you two!  Colton Urquhart just reached a major milestone in his aviation journey by earning his Instrument Rating! Despite his busy schedule as a student at UNR, Colton has always made time for his passion for aviation. When he’s not flying under the foggles he’s often up in the air with his grandpa in his Bonanza. Growing up with a passion for flying, Colton’s journey to his Instrument Rating was a natural next step! The training wasn’t a walk in the clouds, it involved mastering everything from precision navigation to staying calm under pressure, but Colton’s determination was sky-high. A huge congratulations to Colton for reaching this milestone, and a special shout-out to his CFII, Nathan Morin. The sky's the limit for Colton's future in aviation!  Let’s give a huge round of applause to Kevin Jerde for earning his instrument rating today! From the Everglades to the Sierra Nevada, Kevin has traded gators in the Everglades for the stunning views of the Sierra Nevada. With his newly polished instrument skills, he’s ready to take on the clouds with confidence and precision. Kevin’s path to this milestone is as impressive as it is varied. From serving in the military to battling fires and solving tech challenges, Kevin has tackled every endeavor with the same grit and determination he’s brought to aviation. A heartfelt thank-you goes to his instructor, Ryan Mill, who helped guide Kevin through the rigorous training required by instrument flying and ensured every procedure, approach, and checklist was mastered. Once again, congratulations Kevin, we are so happy to share this achievement with you and can’t wait to see what you’ll do next. Awesome work Kevin and Ryan! Time to take a nap ;)  Sky’s the limit for Brendan O’Brien, who just took a major step in his aviation journey with earning his Private Pilot’s License! His sights are set on becoming a Navy Pilot, and today’s milestone brings him one step closer to achieving that goal. Brendan can now navigate the skies as confidently as he drafts his fantasy football team. Whether he’s charting a course or managing his fantasy roster, his determination and focus are unwavering. As he continues to climb toward his ultimate goal of becoming a Navy aviator, we know he’ll soar with the same commitment he brings to everything he does. A huge shout-out to his CFI, Grant Muzzio, for helping him reach this high point in his aviation journey. Keep reaching for the clouds, Brendan—you’re cleared for greatness!  Wait a second… haven’t we seen this lady before? Oh right—wasn’t she the one caught stealing candy from the office? Or maybe it’s because she was GBA’s October Pilot of the Month. Wait… it was both?! That’s right, folks—the candy thief herself, Hayli Stewart, has achieved the ultimate milestone today and soloed N670CS at KRNO on runway 17L! As we got to know Hayli a little better today, we unearthed some... let’s call them interesting details. For starters, she’s got a thing for rocks, potatoes (yes, really), CRAC (no, not that kind of crack…), skiing, her motorcycle, and line dancing. She’s truly a character through and through! It was only a little painful to watch her fill out the “Tell Us About You” form. But let’s not let the jokes overshadow the fact that Hayli is an amazing student who absolutely excels in the classroom and brings an infectious energy wherever she goes. To top it all off, her parents were here today to cheer her on during this unforgettable milestone. Let’s give a huge round of applause to Hayli Stewart and her flight instructor, Eric Harned, for this incredible achievement. We can’t wait to see what the candy thief accomplishes next!  Batter up! Maks Barger has stepped onto the field and knocked his checkride out of the park by earning his Private Pilot License! This aviation all-star has been putting in the work to climb the ranks. With the Reno Air Race Association scholarship backing him, Maks brought his A-game to every lesson, demonstrating focus and determination worthy of a true pro. Whether it was mastering steep turns or drilling in his ground knowledge, Maks approached each challenge like a seasoned player, making it clear he was destined for the majors of aviation. When Maks isn’t acing his flight training, you can find him playing baseball (could you tell?), grinding out his schoolwork, or enjoying a good burger. With all this said, no champion achieves greatness alone. Let’s give a huge shoutout to Maks’s instructor, Ryan Mill, for being the ultimate coach, guiding him through every inning of his training and ensuring he was ready to crush his checkride. Maks, you’ve proven that when you step up to the plate, it’s a guaranteed home run. Congratulations on this incredible achievement—you’ve earned it! Now, take a victory lap at pattern altitude, because the skies are your new ballpark.  |
AuthorAll posts are either written by Great Basin Aviation's staff or shared articles from other aviation sites. Source will be referenced in post. Archives
January 2025
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