Where do we begin with this one… she’s sassy, a scholarship queen, races triathlons, loves to annoy Jenn with her ripped jeans, holds Hailey hostage for scheduling, and has worked up to THREE jobs at the same time to pursue her flight training! Yeah, suffice to say, Kiera Grange is an anomaly and a half… but today, she’s got an accomplishment that tops the rest: the fabulous and unstoppable force of Kiera Grange soloed at KSPZ on runway 24 in N37JA! Kiera is an incredibly driven individual, and if adding “solo pilot” to her impressive resume wasn’t already proof enough, Kiera is also one of the recipients of the highly esteemed 2024 Reno Air Race Association scholarship! Kiera, you’ve been grinding out scholarship applications, running to your heart’s content, going to Monday night study groups, and flying like the maniac you are. We are so incredibly proud of you, and it’s been a privilege watching you climb the steps of your flight training. Huge congratulations to Kiera on this amazing accomplishment! Also, huge round of applause to her flight instructors, Nathan Morin and Andrew Spanier, who have guided Kiera towards achieving this milestone. Great work you three! Now Kiera… let’s talk about that scholarship spreadsheet 😏.
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Tommy Kelly is a private pilot!! With the goal of a new career in aviation, Tommy has achieved the first big milestone! Now the real adventure begins, but first, let's celebrate the incredible dedication and hard work he's put into reaching this point. Tommy has demonstrated exceptional time management and ambition. Balancing a full-time job, being a devoted husband and dad, and commuting from Truckee to the airport, he’s shown us all that with determination and careful planning, anything is possible. Imagine navigating those mountain roads to get to his lessons on time – talk about dedication! Despite juggling so many responsibilities, Tommy made it look easy. His ability to manage work, family, and flight training is nothing short of inspirational. If anyone needs a lesson in how to maximize their day, just ask Tommy! Tommy, your hard work and perseverance are truly inspirational. Amazing job!! And a huge shoutout to his CFI, Nate Morin, for the great guidance. So here's to Tommy – may your skies always be clear, and your landings always smooth.
Look out everyone! Kieran Summer… I mean Kieran Winter (heat must be getting to my head 😉) is officially a soloed pilot! This Wyomingite decided to trade the breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains for the gorgeous and our personal favorite: Sierra Nevada Mountains and started his flight training a couple months back. After some ground school harassing, questioning his crazy cat “lady” standing, and fuming the flames of his wannabe Top Gun status, *cue Top Gun theme* Kieran flew to glory this morning and soloed here at the illustrious KRNO on runway 17L in N37JA. With his aviators in hand, his flight suit equipped, Kiearn buckled up and blasted off the runway… tower was sure to give out wake turbulence warnings and request a flyby... In all seriousness, Kieran did an excellent job today and we’re so excited to celebrate this first step in his aviation journey! Huge congratulations to Kieran and his flight instructor, Trey Casini, on this incredible accomplishment! Keep up the work Kieran!
Aw naw... Derrick Craine is a private pilot, y'all! Our weekend line tech, biggest smile award winner, loudest laugh echoing down the hallway, and Waffle House aficionado has just earned his freedom ticket to the sky! Derrick, one of the founders of the FAR/AIM Tabbers, is always either up in the sky or holed up in a conference room with his study buddies. He jumped into his flight training like a duck on a June bug, and now all that hard work has paid off! This Southern gentleman ain't no stranger to hard work. He played football for the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, got his degree, works full-time, and still found time to move his family, including his adorable daughter, to this part of the world! He managed to get this done just in the nick of time before the Georgia football season kicks off. Good golly! But hold your horses—the work isn't over yet. He's diving right back into his instrument training! Awesome job, Derrick! And a huge shoutout to his CFI, Eric Harned!
Oh no… not this guy again. If his solo picture wasn’t already interesting enough, Lukas has stunned the crowd yet again with this one… we promise he’s allowed to fly airplanes, so much so that Lukas got his private pilot certificate today! Beating the heat, Lucas embarked on his checkride early this morning… against his own free will of course, this guy will sleep in till 12PM on a regular day. Suffice to say, he opted out of his pajamas and suited up ready for flight. Being the fashionista he is, Lukas was sure to not disappoint… absolutely lovely darling! All jokes and jabs aside, Lukas brought his flight home to victory and fist bumped his friend and flight instructor, Trey Casini on this ultimate success! When Lukas isn’t being an absolute drama queen, you can find him blasting dubstep music at an ungodly volume, buying clothes like the fashionista he is, and splurging on the occasional lego. Huge congratulations to Lukas and Trey on this incredible accomplishment! Don’t party too hard!
Big congratulations to Brian Goodall for soloing this morning at KRTS runway 32 in N670CS! Brian is the epitome of perseverance, steadily chipping away at his requirements. Today, he finally got to boot his CFI from the plane and enjoy the sky all to himself. We can only imagine the giant smile on his face when he lifted off the ground for the first time as PIC. Brian’s incredible smile and infectious laugh light up our office every day. Even though we love to give him a hard time, he always takes it with a grin, but is probably secretly plotting his revenge :) Brian, your determination and positive spirit are truly inspirational. You’ve shown us all what dedication and hard work can achieve, and we couldn’t be prouder. You've faced every challenge with a smile and tackled every obstacle with grit. Your journey is a testament to the fact that perseverance pays off. To see you lift off today was a moment of pure joy for all of us. We know this is just the beginning of many more amazing accomplishments in your aviation journey. Awesome job, Brian! And huge kudos to his CFI, Alex Spencer, for the fantastic guidance!
The master chef has made his special appearance yet again! Grant White has not only mastered the art of cooking but has also mastered the art of the skies by obtaining his private pilot license today! Grant came in warmed up and ready to dish up something fierce. And just like a perfectly balanced dish requires care and precision, Grant was sure to bring that and everything he had to the metaphorical checkride table. With a pinch of right rudder and a dash of thermals, Grant skillfully brought the examiner back to the airport with the same finesse he garnishes when serving up a five-course meal. Grant, you’ve been chilled from the winter snowstorms and cooked in the summer heat, huge congratulations on this five-star accomplishment, you’ve done it! And let’s give a big round of applause to Grant’s sous-chef and CFI, Alex Spencer, who has been here to support Grant every step of the way on his private pilot journey. Awesome job you two! Now, when is GBA going to get a taste of some of this famous cooking?
Big congratulations to Seth Ruff on his solo flight today! Seth took to the skies on runway 17L at KRNO in N37JA before the temperature outside became unlivable for human life. This guy is truly amazing! Between work, CrossFit workouts (we see him pushing those planes around 💪), his family, daughters and granddaughter, and constantly being on the move (he’s lived in 28 different homes over the last 34 years, including London, Hong Kong, and New York), Seth still found time to fly. Seth always walks into the office with a smile on his face, and his passion for aviation shines through in his dedication to training. He's been lifting his dreams off the ground just like he lifts those weights! From burpees to takeoffs, Seth proves that hard work and determination can help you soar to new heights. We are incredibly proud of you, Seth! And a huge shoutout to his CFI, Alex Spencer, for the excellent guidance. Keep soaring high and reaching for the skies!
Huge congratulations to Ryan Kwan on his epic solo flight today! Ryan took to the skies at KRTS runway 08 in N670CS, proving why he’s our super recent Pilot of the Month. This guy is an absolute beast! With a relentless focus and unstoppable drive, Ryan showed his instructor that he’s got what it takes to soar solo. Trey, his CFI, hopped out, and Ryan put on a jaw-dropping takeoff and landing display, marking his first addition to the PIC column in his logbook. After his beast-mode performance, he picked up Trey and headed back to Reno, showing that hard work and dedication truly pay off. When he’s not dominating the gym, excelling at work, or escaping to the mountains, Ryan is hitting the books and flying, always keeping his end goal in sight. His hard work and laser focus are paying off big time. Awesome job, Ryan! And a huge shoutout to his CFI Trey Casini for the stellar guidance. Keep flying high!
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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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
July 2024
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