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    Ava Soloed!!

    Big congratulations to Ava Armen on her solo flight today! Ava soared to new heights at KSPZ runway 24 in N37JA, marking an incredible milestone in her aviation journey. This remarkable young lady just graduated high school, juggles a job at In-N-Out, and is mastering the art of flying. With aviation in her blood, as her dad was both a GA and commercial pilot, Ava is honoring his legacy in the most beautiful way. Ava’s infectious smile lights up the airport, and today was no exception after her unforgettable solo flight. Her dedication and passion for flying are truly inspiring. How did Ava celebrate this monumental achievement? She went straight to work, bringing her same drive and enthusiasm to In-N-Out—because when you’re passionate about what you do, you shine no matter where you are, even if you smell like a hamburger and grilled onions all day :) Awesome job, Ava! Your journey is just beginning, and we can’t wait to see all the incredible things you’ll accomplish. A huge congratulations to her CFI, Shane Smith, for guiding her to this moment.
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    Tate is a CFII!

    Congratulations to Tate Neubecker on earning his CFII! Tate is a true GBA original, earning his Private Pilot right at 17 in 2019. After graduating high school, he soared off to Auburn University's Aviation Program. Summers home meant staying current with his flying and enjoying these Northern Nevada skies. Now, after graduating from Auburn, he's off to an incredible flight training opportunity in Alabama.We're pumped that Tate squeezed in earning his CFII during a quick trip home before starting his new adventure. Big shoutout to his CFII, Nathan Morin, who’s been part of Tate's journey since their high school plane spotting days. Seeing Tate, Nate, and their third amigo Andy Xie succeed is like watching the three musketeers of aviation take flight. We couldn't be more excited for Tate and all that he has accomplished and will continue to achieve in the aviation industry. Keep reaching for the skies, Tate! We can't wait to see where your wings take you next! ​
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    Melissa is a Private Pilot!!

    Congratulations to Melissa Drapala on earning her private pilot certificate today! Even though she’s a ski bum at heart and loves carving up winter slopes, she didn’t let the summer heat melt her determination. Melissa traded in her ski poles for flight controls and hit the books hard, proving her skills with a stellar performance in her oral exam and flight. She tackled those exam questions like fresh powder runs and soared through her flight test like she was catching the perfect lift to the peak. From shredding the slopes to cruising the clouds, Melissa is taking her adventurous spirit to new heights! Big shoutout to her CFI, Danny Britson, for being the ultimate guide on this flight path. Whether it's carving down snowy mountains or navigating through the skies, Melissa is unstoppable! Awesome job Melissa!!

    Melissa snuck out before we could snap a picture so pictured is her checkride aircraft. It is just as excited for her as we are! 😁
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    Nathan's Cracked the Code on Instrument!

    Computer whizz and pilot extraordinaire, Nathan Sargent, has officially debugged the skies and earned his instrument rating today! Nathan, known for his binary brilliance and terminal tenacity, has officially added a new line of code to his aviation skills repository. His passion for computers seamlessly integrates with his love for aviation, making him a high-flying programmer with a knack for navigating both the digital and aerial realms. Nathan’s journey has been nothing short of a masterclass in persistence and precision. Whether it was interpreting ATC instructions as seamlessly as reading code or navigating through clouds as confidently as debugging software, Nathan has demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication. When Nathan isn’t hacking into the mainframe, this computer scientist is anything but a hermit and loves to spend his time outdoors basking in all that natural glory. Huge congratulations to Nathan and his CFII, Shane Smith, who was the key function that made it all possible and provided the perfect algorithm to Nathan’s success. Awesome work, Nathan!
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    Andy's a Private Pilot!!

    Wait, we know this guy! We’re thrilled to announce that our weekend line tech and avid golfer, Andy Glenn, has just scored a hole-in-one by earning his private pilot license today! Andy hit off his training with the same precision he brings to the golf course. Dressed in one of his golf outfits, and sporting his legendary mustache, he came ready to take a checkride but then also play a game afterwards... if you didn’t know he was a character before, then I’m sure that little tid bit tells you all you need to know. From fairways to runways, Andy’s precision both on the golf course and in the cockpit is inspirational, showing that he’s a truce ace. And to no one’s surprise, right after earning his certificate, Andy quite literally went to the golf course to celebrate… unreal 🙄. As much as we love to give him a hard time, this smiley guy has worked incredibly hard to get to this point in his training. Awesome work, Andy! Also, huge shoutout to his quite literal partner-in-crime and CFI, Nathan Morin, who has been by Andy’s side coaching him the HOLE time… okay I’ll stop. Great work you two! Now onto instrument!
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    Preston is a CFI!!

    Preston Parrish is now an airplane CFI!! Why are we being specific with "airplane?" Well, because this guy has more ratings and certificates than you can shake a propeller at. If he had business cards, they’d be legal paper size! Not only does this amazing aviator have all his glider certificates and ratings, including Glider CFI, but he's also racking up all the airplane ratings and certificates. Is this part of his plan for world domination? Who knows at this point! While Preston has been out there hustling on his aviation career goals, he’s also a full-time student at UNR, studying business finance. And did we mention he commutes in from Truckee? Talk about dedication! Where will Preston land with his newfound certificate? Maybe the real question is, does this guy ever land because he certainly doesn’t sit still. CFII is definitely in his future. Huge congratulations to Preston and a big shoutout to his CFI Richard Brong for guiding him to this milestone. Keep soaring, Preston! The sky’s not even the limit for you.
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