by Jordan Hanhilammi | Dec 6, 2024 | Air Race News, Media, Scholarships
We are excited to share that one of our 2024 scholarship winners, Maks Barger recently earned his Private Pilot License!
Check out what Great Basin Aviation shared with us about Maks.
“Batter up! Maks Barger has stepped onto the field and knocked his checkride out of the park by earning his Private Pilot License! This aviation all-star has been putting in the work to climb the ranks. With the Reno Air Race Association scholarship backing him, Maks brought his A-game to every lesson, demonstrating focus and determination worthy of a true pro. Whether it was mastering steep turns or drilling in his ground knowledge, Maks approached each challenge like a seasoned player, making it clear he was destined for the majors of aviation. When Maks isn’t acing his flight training, you can find him playing baseball (could you tell?), grinding out his schoolwork, or enjoying a good burger. With all this said, no champion achieves greatness alone. Let’s give a huge shoutout to Maks’s instructor, Ryan Mill, for being the ultimate coach, guiding him through every inning of his training and ensuring he was ready to crush his checkride. Maks, you’ve proven that when you step up to the plate, it’s a guaranteed home run. Congratulations on this incredible achievement—you’ve earned it! Now, take a victory lap at pattern altitude, because the skies are your new ballpark.”
Congratulations, Maks!
by Jordan Hanhilammi | Nov 27, 2024 | Air Race News, Media, Scholarships
Support is the backbone of everything we do.
Our fans and volunteers support us.
We support our community.
The racing teams support each other.
Our history supports our future.
While we are in the midst of an incredibly large-scale transition to a new location, the people at the helm are still the same caring and tireless team dedicated to making tomorrow a better day for our Air Racing community and the aviation world as a whole.
With that said, the goal for a better tomorrow does require financial resources to make it work. And because of that, we hope that this coming Giving Tuesday (December 3rd), you will consider giving to our organization.
You can rest assured that your hard-earned dollars will go directly to causes you can be proud of. Areas for donation include:
General Fund (our current area of greatest need)
STEM Education Programs
Flight Training Scholarships
Military families attending the Air Races
Thank you for your consideration in giving and in sharing our message. We are grateful every day to be cheered on by the greatest fans in the world. Please know that we don’t take your support for granted. It’s an essential part of building a better tomorrow.
by Jordan Hanhilammi | Oct 24, 2024 | Air Race News, Media, Scholarships
Last Thursday one of our scholarship recipients, John Hamilton soloed!
Check out what Great Basin Aviation has to say about John below!
“John Hamilton has officially dominated the skies has he soloed at KRNO on rwy 17L in N752DW! This recipient of the prestigious Reno Air Race Association scholarship has been skillfully balancing school and flight training, and today, all his hard work paid off. His first solo was nothing short of spectacular, and we couldn’t be more excited for him. John’s love for aviation shines through every flight, and his dedication to improving is inspiring. With school on one hand and flight training on the other, he’s been navigating both like a pro, proving he’s got what it takes to soar to new heights. A huge thank you goes out to his instructor, Eric Harned, for guiding John on this incredible journey. It’s no small task to help someone spread their wings, but Eric’s support and teaching have truly made a difference. John, you’ve proven today that you’re ready to take on the skies solo, and we can’t wait to see where your journey takes you next. Congratulations! Private pilot is just on the horizon!”
Congratulations, John!
by Jordan Hanhilammi | Oct 16, 2024 | Air Race News, Media, Scholarships
We have another scholarship recipient who soloed! Congratulations to Zeus Wesley!
Check out what Great Basin Aviation had to say about him below:
“Today, the skies were no match for the thunderous presence of Zeus Wesley, who unleashed his aviation prowess and soloed in N752DW on runway 26 at KRTS. Just like the Greek god Zeus, known for commanding the heavens, Zeus Wesley took control of the skies, proving that he’s ready to strike lightning on his journey to becoming a pilot. As a recipient of the Reno Air Race Association scholarship, Zeus has clearly harnessed the power of the winds to reach new heights. His flight training has been nothing short of electrifying, and today’s solo is a testament to his dedication and skill. While his namesake may have ruled Olympus, our Zeus is the king of the runway. With the winds beneath his wings and the confidence of a deity, Zeus Wesley is now officially soaring solo, ready to make every flight as legendary as his name! Let’s give a thunderous round of applause to Zeus and his flight instructor, Grant Muzzio, who has guided him along this awesome journey! Keep an eye on the horizon—this pilot’s journey is just getting started!”
Congratulations, Zeus!
by Jordan Hanhilammi | Oct 4, 2024 | Air Race News, Media, Scholarships
We’re interrupting the air show content to share that one of our 2024 scholarship winners became a Private Pilot earlier this week! Congratulations to Alex Florez!
Check out what Great Basin Aviation has to say about Alex.
“Huge congratulations to Alex Florez for earning his Private Pilot Certificate!! We’ve got to give it to Alex—this guy is a master time manager like no other. He’s not just a full-time student, but he’s been crushing his prep for the oral exam, staying current in the skies, and still finding time to hit the gym for those solid gains. I mean, check out those veins! We’re just hoping there’s still time for schoolwork somewhere in there. But that’s not all—Alex is also the proud recipient of the coveted Reno Air Race Association scholarship, and we can’t think of anyone more deserving! This young man embodies hard work, determination, and excellence in everything he does. Whether he’s studying or flying, he brings 100% effort every single time. Alex is also one of the most pleasant and respectful people you’ll ever meet. Always positive, always polite—even when we throw a little sass his way (which, let’s be honest, we probably won’t stop). But he takes it all in stride with that great attitude we love! And of course, none of this would’ve been possible without his amazing CFI, Shane Smith! A huge shoutout to Shane for being the rock-solid support that guided Alex to this huge accomplishment. We couldn’t be prouder of Alex and all he’s achieved. The sky’s no limit for this incredible young man. Keep soaring higher, Alex—you’re only getting started!”
by Jordan Hanhilammi | Sep 20, 2024 | Air Race News, Media, Scholarships
We have a 2024 scholarship recipient update:
Yesterday afternoon, Great Basin Aviation shared with us that Jared Garrido is officially a private pilot! Congratulations on this amazing accomplishment, Jared!
Check out what Great Basin has to say about Jared below.
“This young overachiever is now free to soar the friendly skies (just below 18,000 feet for now). Jared’s been on an incredible journey—he graduated high school early, eats, sleeps, and breathes aviation, and even landed the prestigious Reno Air Race scholarship!
But let’s not forget the real struggle: the sunshade (see picture). While Jared’s already nailing his landings, putting that sunshade in the plane? Let’s just say, he’s still working on it… We’ll blame it on the excitement of becoming a private pilot!
Jared’s not just a standout because of his technical skills, though. His attitude and dedication are second to none. When you ask him to do something, he’s already on it, with that signature smile on his face. His supportive family has been behind him every step of the way, too. His dad is always hanging out at the airport, camera in hand, proudly sharing stories about his newly minted pilot son. It’s heartwarming to see such strong support.
A big shoutout to Jared’s CFI, Alex Spencer, who’s been there to guide him through the ups and downs (pun intended). To accomplish this at such a young age sets Jared on a path for great things in aviation, and we couldn’t be prouder.
Congratulations, Jared! We can’t wait to see where you fly next. And don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of that sunshade eventually.”
