Student Pilots

SOLO FLIGHT

Marc Lilly soloed the mighty Cessna 150 yesterday at approximately 6 PM. Brad Smith, his instructor, felt compelled to launch him on his own, saying "The time is nigh". Good decision because apparently Marc did a wonderful job and remarked how much faster the aircraft climbed when it was 185 pounds lighter. Happens every time!

Congratulations Marc, job well done. Welcome to the community of pilots.

PRIVATE PILOT

We are happy to announce that Robert McEnaney successfully completed his Private Pilot Practical test on 19 July 2019. Congratulations, Robert. Congratulations to his instructor, Dennis Mathis, as well. Well done gentlemen !!

I am pleased and proud to announce that Robert McEnaney completed all the requirements Friday evening to obtain that coveted piece of paper "Temporary Airman Certificate ". He'll be getting the permanent private pilot certificate in the very near future.
It has been a long and sometimes tortuous path for Robert to achieve his dream of becoming a private pilot. Dogged determination and a "never give up" attitude paid off.
Welcome to the ranks of a very exclusive club, Robert !
Dennis Mathis

SOLO FLIGHT

Robert McEnaney soloed the Cessna 150 on Monday, November 5, 2018. His instructor, Dennis Mathis, remarked "It is with a great deal of pleasure (and a little relief) that I announce that Robert B. McEnaney did fly the Cessna today without his instructor aboard. HE SOLO'd !! He did a pretty fine job and the aircraft appears to be usable again. Congratulations Robert. Well Done!!"

SOLO FLIGHT

Yesterday (12 July 2019) at precisely 1908, Marshall Stanford successfully landed the Mighty Cessna 150 without his instructor on board. He completed two more in like fashion. It must have been okay because after parking the aircraft, all the pieces of the aircraft seemed to be in place. I think the Cessna will fly again :)

Marshall did make the comment that the airplane "zoomed " after all the extra weight exited the aircraft. Amazing how physics works.

Congratulations, Marshall. good things are yet to come.

Dennis M

PRIVATE PILOT
Bill successfully completed and passed his check ride today and is now a REAL PILOT! Congratulations to Bill and more congratulations to Don Reeder, his instructor.
Well done, Bill and Don.
Dennis M

Congratulations Bill and Don! That was quite the journey Bill but you hung in there and got it done. Now, time to have some fun! Well done Mr. Reeder.
Denis R.

SOLO FLIGHT
On an evening in the early summer 2017, Mr. Bill Schatz, a member of the Majors Flying Club, did successfully attempt and complete his FIRST SOLO FLIGHT followed by three successful landings. The sunset was particularly brilliant that evening as his instructor Don Reeder documented the memorable event and the post-solo grin in the pictures below. Bill was a student in the Majors Flying Club 2015 Ground School class and is taking advantage of the flight training offered through our flying club to qualified club members.

Congratulations Bill on taking the mighty Cessna for a spin around the pattern without the aid and guidance of your instructor.

Congratulations Mr. Reeder for getting another student to their first solo.

PRIVATE PILOT
We are happy to announce that Nathaniel Bennett successfully completed his Private Pilot Practical test on Saturday, May 12, 2018. Congratulations, Nathaniel. Congratulations to his instructor, John Pitkin, as well. Well done gentlemen !!

SOLO FLIGHT
Nathaniel Bennett soloed the Cessna 150 on Thursday, December 28, 2017. Said it "was fun ! ". His instructor, John Pitkin, remarked that it was a "text book" initial solo. Congratulations to both Nathaniel and John

PRIVATE PILOT
Zach Miller successfully completed his check ride today, Monday, April 30, 2018 (at Caddo Mills) in the club's Cessna 150. Some planning and aircraft ferry work had to be accomplished over the weekend to support a Monday check ride due to runaway closures at Majors but I doubt he minded especially considering the results. Zach said it went fine.

Congratulations Zach and his instructor Dennis Mathis. Well done!

SOLO Flight
Congratulations are in order for Zach Miller who soloed the mighty Cessna 150 today (Thursday, 16 Nov). A little crosswind, a change in runway use and a Q-400 departure interrupting his third landing did not deter Zach from achieving his goal. Well Done, Zach !

Note the big smile on Zach's face after completing his solo !!

PRIVATE PILOT
Josh Stone completed his check ride today, Tuesday, April 24, 2018, with Brad Smith. I don't know which one has the best smile. Josh's comment after the check ride, "Smooth as butter ". Not sure what that means but it must be good.

Congratulations Josh, well done. Congratulations to his instructor, Dennis Mathis, for successfully instructing another private pilot.

SOLO FLIGHT
Last evening, Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at around 1650, Josh Stone unabashed and unafraid, flew the mighty Cessna 150 in the pattern without any assistance. He did remark how the Cessna seemed to climb a lot faster without his instructor on board. Good job, Josh. You have now joined the unique league of AVIATORS !!

PRIVATE PILOT:
Tyler successfully completed his check ride for his Private Pilot certificate today, Thursday, March 1, 2018, despite the sale of the plane he trained in and postponed check ride dates! Well done Tyler.

Congratulations to Don Reeder for shepherding another one through the private pilot wickets.

SOLO FLIGHT:
On the morning of Friday, June 30, 2017, unbeknownst to other pilots in the pattern at Majors Fields in Greenville, TX, one each Tyler Sanders was let loose at the controls of the Harvest Aviation Cherokee 140 for his FIRST SOLO flight. As you can see from the photos provided by his instructor Don Reeder, Mr. Sanders is sporting the very recognizable and not uncommon "post-solo grin". Tyler was a student in the Majors Flying Club 2016 Ground School class and is taking advantage of the flight training offered through our flying club to qualified club members.

Congratulations Tyler on the singularly unique milestone of every pilot working toward their private pilot certificate.

Well done Mr. Reeder. Two student solo flights in the same week of the same month. That might be a first for the club. Now stop it, I am tired of updating the website!

PRIVATE PILOT
Mr Young Lee successfully completed his Private Pilot check-ride today (23Aug2017), dazzling the DPE, Mr. Brad Smith, with a superb display of airmanship, skill and cunning. Young said he was glad he passed the check-ride . Note the grin on Young's face!

Young was a member of the 2015 Majors Flying Club Ground School and soloed on November 30, 2016. It is great to watch a club member make their way all the way from Ground School to a certificated Private Pilot.

Great job, Young, welcome to the small world of Private Pilots.

SOLO FLIGHT
Mr. Young Lee, under the tutelage of Mr. Dennis Mathis, did successfully complete his first SOLO flight in the mighty Cessna on November 30, 2016. Congratulation Young!

PRIVATE PILOT
On the windy and gusty afternoon of Wednesday, March 29, 2017, Mr. Tom Hubert passed his check ride with FAA Designated Pilot Examiner Brad Smith. Tom's instructor was Don Reeder.

We all recognize that smile! Well done Tom.

SOLO FLIGHT
Congratulations to Tom Hubert who soloed the Cherokee 140 on May 3, 2016. It was a perfect weather day to solo. Tom is a graduate of the Majors Flying Club 2015 Ground School and yet he came back for more! Tom did a great job and the plane is usable for future flights! According to Tom, "it was a piece of cake". Yeah, maybe, but what about the flight?

Kudos to Tom's instructor, Don Reeder. Don was as nervous as an "expectant father" but his student came through for him and that counts for a lot! It was hard to tell which one had the bigger sigh of relief.

Congratulations to both Tom and Don. Well done.

From left to right: 1st Solo in the Pattern, 1st Solo landing, Post Solo Grin, Post Solo Photo Op