​Huge congratulations to Troy Cook on earning his Private Pilot License today! This is a huge milestone and a true testament to Troy’s dedication, persistence, and willingness to put in the hard work to achieve his goals. This accomplishment reflects months of discipline and determination, a challenge Troy is used to as a business owner himself.
Outside the cockpit, Troy is a man of many skills, from blacksmithing, carpentry, welding, and commercial fishing to truck driving and ski coaching. He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty, and he brings that same grit and determination to everything he does. He’s also an explorer at heart, always chasing the thrill of seeing new sights. Whether it’s from the cockpit, on skis, a snowmobile, or out on a hiking trail, Troy lives for the adventure. As a business owner and now a licensed pilot, Troy continues to prove that hard work and adventure go hand in hand, and that the sky is only the beginning.
Troy’s journey proves that with hard work, a love for adventure, and the courage to take on new challenges, the sky truly has no limits. A special shoutout as well to his CFI, Lucas Murphy, for guiding him on this journey and helping him reach this achievement! Every great pilot has a great teacher behind them, and today they both share in this achievement. Congratulations again, Troy, the sky is yours!!

Huge congratulations to Sam Clem, who soloed today at KRTS, Runway 26 in N352ME! Sam might say he’s scared of heights, but today he proved that trading cliffs for clouds is a much better view. From takeoff roll to final landing, he climbed higher than nerves could reach and showed that the cockpit is his new summit.
Sam is all about the outdoors. When he’s not in the left seat, you’ll find him rock climbing, skiing, or adventuring through the mountains near his hometown of Quincy. He’s as comfortable on the slopes as he is in the cockpit, carving through turns and navigating new terrain with skill and confidence. And just like a good hike, his solo was all about putting one step (or one circuit) after the other until he reached the top.
With every lap in the pattern, Sam blazed his own trail through the morning skies and planted his flag at one of aviation’s biggest milestones. A huge congratulations as well to his CFI, Greg Anthenien, for the steady guidance and mentorship that helped Sam trade trails and ski tracks for flight paths. Way to go, Sam! You’ve shown that even if heights on a rock wall make you look down, up here in the wide-open sky, the view is worth every climb.