​Big shoutout to Ryan Kwan, who just earned his Instrument Rating! That means he’s now certified to fly through the clouds, keep his cool when visibility drops, and let the gauges do the talking. It takes discipline, focus, and plenty of patience to master IFR flying, and Ryan nailed it.
Now, Ryan has been known to say, “when I grow up, I just want to be a hermit in the mountains.” Nice dream, Ryan, but let’s be real, you don’t spend hours perfecting holds, nailing approaches, and briefing procedures just to go live in a cabin with goats. Maybe save the Jeremiah Johnson hermit thing for retirement, because aviation clearly has your name written all over it. You belong in the sky, not hiding in the woods.
Of course, this milestone didn’t come without help, major props to his CFII, Greg Anthenien, who had the joy (and maybe occasional headache) of riding shotgun while Ryan turned “I think I see the runway” into “established on the localizer.” Together, they tackled the clouds, the checklists, and the challenges, and came out with a shiny new rating to prove it.
So congratulations, Ryan! You’ve gone from mountain man daydreams to cloud conqueror reality. The only thing in holding now is your retirement plan, aviation is where you belong.

CFII Success, Congratulations Justin Olmstead! 
Huge congratulations to Justin Olmstead for nailing his CFII checkride today! While he might be known for leaving his belongings scattered in the cockpit and his flight bag laying in the hallway, when it comes to flying, he’s all about staying on the proper course. Today, Justin proved to the examiner that he’s more than qualified to “teach in the soup” and keep students on the glidepath to success.
This guy doesn’t exactly sit idle, between golf swings, marathon running, hiking trails, and even pickleball (really, Justin?), he somehow finds time to keep his personal heading bug set firmly on aviation. His determination and focus would pass any holding-pattern endurance test.
His long-term goal? American Airlines, cruising high in the left seat. But knowing Justin, he’s not done adding approaches, endorsements, and ratings to his logbook just yet. Next up: maybe some seaplane flying, having some fun with his certificates, and then helping the next generation of aviators keep the shiny side up and the needles centered.
And of course, congratulations as well to his CFII, Shane Smith, for keeping Justin trimmed out, stable, and on course toward this milestone. Way to go, Justin! You’ve got unlimited ceilings and a clearance path to success!

First Solo Spotlight: De Angelo Guerra! Today was a milestone moment at KCXP, Runway 27, in N670CS as De Angelo Guerra officially joined the ranks of solo aviators! What we love most about De Angelo (besides his unwavering loyalty to the Raiders 🏈) is his ability to get back in the cockpit no matter what life throws at him. Resilience doesn’t even begin to describe him; this guy is proof that turbulence may rock you, but it doesn’t have to ground you. He’s been knocked down plenty of times, but he always finds his lift again.
And let’s be honest, his excitement for flying is just plain contagious. He comes into every lesson with the kind of enthusiasm that could file its own flight plan. Whether it’s preflight or postflight, his smile alone could pass a checkride.
Today, all that persistence paid off. De Angelo rotated, climbed out, and proved he’s got what it takes to fly left-seat, PIC style. Talk about a student who’s truly cleared for takeoff in life. Of course, this big moment wouldn’t have been possible without the steady guidance of his CFI, Cody Klein, who’s been the perfect wingman on this journey.
Congratulations, De Angelo! You’ve just logged the most memorable PIC time of your career. Keep that heading steady, you’re well on your way to cruising altitude as a private pilot.

Commercial Pilot Alert: Congratulations, Alex Florez! From that very first takeoff at GBA, Alex has been climbing steadily toward his goals, and today, he reached a brand-new cruising altitude, Commercial Pilot! He can now officially exercise those commercial privileges he’s worked so hard for. Is he taxiing straight over to United? Not just yet, but this milestone has him one giant step closer to the big leagues. Alex’s flight path has been fueled by focus, determination, and an attitude that never wavered, even when Nevada’s summer heat made the cockpit feel like a slow bake. Most people would have called it a no-go, but Alex pushed through, proving that he’s got both the endurance and the skill to make it happen.
As a past RARA scholarship winner, Alex has already shown his commitment to aviation excellence, and now he’s ready for the next leg of his journey, CFI training! With his work ethic and positivity, there’s no doubt he’ll inspire the next generation of pilots just as much as he’s inspired us.
Big congratulations as well to his CFI, Eric Harned, for helping Alex stay on course and stick the landing on this incredible milestone.
Alex, you’ve logged the hours, fought through the turbulence, and proved that with persistence and passion, the sky isn’t the limit, it’s just the beginning.

​Ka-Chow! Happy Birthday & First Solo to Sophia Sanchez!  Most people celebrate their birthday with cake and candles… but Sophia decided to trade in the party hat for a headset. Today, she soloed in N752DW at KRNO on runway 17L, making her birthday one she’ll never forget. If you know Sophia, you know she’s the sweetest, most positive flyer around, always smiling, always lifting up those around her. But don’t let that kind heart fool you, Sophia is a go-getter through and through. Whatever she sets her mind to, she does. And today, she proved it in the sky.
Her favorite movie has always been Cars, but after this milestone, we’re pretty sure Planes might take the lead. Just like Lightning McQueen, Sophia’s got that “I am speed” energy. She drove her training hard all summer and crossed the finish line today with style. With her eyes on the airlines, she’s showing everyone that the dream is real, and she’s well on her way.
And just like every racer needs a pit crew, every pilot needs a mentor. Huge congratulations to her CFI, Cory Kleidosty, for guiding her through the track, lap after lap, until she was ready to take flight on her own. Sophia, happy birthday, happy solo, and congrats on taking the green flag in your aviation journey!

​Congratulations to Cody Koch on his first solo flight! ✈️ Cody took N352ME up at KRTS on runway 08 and absolutely crushed it. While most teenagers spent their summer glued to TikTok, gaming marathons, or “resting up” for back-to-school (isn’t that what they do?), Cody was out here chasing down dreams and flying airplanes. Priorities: set.
This guy drives all the way in from Truckee for his training, through mountain traffic, questionable weather, and probably at least one Subaru Outback traffic jam, because he knows that becoming a pilot isn’t about convenience, it’s about commitment. And that commitment paid off today when he tasted that sweet, unmatched freedom of solo flight.
Not only is Cody a hard-charger in the cockpit, he’s also a guitar player. So while some people only play “Free Bird,” Cody went out and actually became one. 
Now, as he heads back to high school next week, he’s adding “airplane pilot” to the list of things he’s balancing along with schoolwork, teenage life, and probably being way cooler than the rest of us at his age. No big deal. Huge shoutout to his CFI, Lucas Murphy, for getting him here. Lucas kept him sharp, safe, and ready to take that leap solo.
Cody, enjoy this moment, because the sky is officially yours!