Congratulations Michael Cosentino on your first solo!

Michael had blue skies, but changing winds at KLVK today. After doing several great landings at KLVK on 25R, he dropped off the extra airplane weight (leaving his CFI behind), and taxied out to 25R, where they promply turned him around to taxi to 7L due to changing winds. He then did his first touch and go on 7L before getting switched over to 7R where he accomplished another solo touch and go before making a full stop on 7R, holding short of 7L, then taxiing back to pick up his instructor. All this was done with an extremely busy airport, including 2 flights of 4 doing formation flights, a flight of 2 P51 Mustangs, and numerous other pilots joining in the pattern with him!

Way to go Michael!

Liz Sommers
CFII

Be it known that on this day, January 12th, 2016, the venerable and esteemed Jonathan Chu did “slip the surly bonds of Earth,” and “flung his eager craft,” Cessna N793UL, clear of “the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds,” and achieved 3 landings without the assistance of another mortal in the plane.

Please pass your congratulations to the newly-minted solo pilot.

Christopher Freeze, CFII

Finally the right day has come- George Melcer demonstrated he has the right stuff this morning by flying the OAK 28R pattern like a pro. The smile says it all. Now let’s stretch our wings and go XC!!

Congrats on your big day George. You worked hard for it.

~ Terence Wilson CFII

Congratulations to Harry Saddler – who soloed N739UL on 28R at KOAK on Friday, April 17, 2015!

To his credit – he did not wear a parachute as he normally would when aboard a single engine Cessna.  (Previously Harry preferred to jump out of aircraft, we are trying to break him of this habit.)

The tower called a go around on the first pass due to proximity to another aircraft, but after that Harry did 3 touch and goes.  He bounced a couple times – likely due to the lack of 230lbs of hot air normally sitting next to him.

Great work Harry.

– Paul Bemowski, CFII

Yesterday, Matthew Gast put on a show for his friends at the Northern California Soaring Association out at the Byron Airport when he took 739UL around the patch 11 times, on runway 30 amidst the usual Sunday Glider and Parachute Ops. Without the weight and distraction of his annoying Flight Instructor, all of this, including a go-around necessitated by a glider on the runway was accomplished with complete aplomb.

Congratulations to Alameda Aero Club’s newest Solo Pilot!

Drew Kemp CFII