PGC Photo Album

PGC Class Of 2008

(Click on photos for larger images.)

Dean Bennett - First Solo - May 18, 2008. Dean is a very happy camper as he gets the secret handshake from Joel after completing his first solo.

But why is Joel grinning from ear-to-ear (below) ... could it be because he knows PGC has not celebrated a First Solo since last season??? (Photos by Jack Goritski)

Dean Bennett Solo (right) - Dean thought he was finished with the Solo Right of Passage when the frontal assault was finished ... he never expected another ambush from the rear ... Hey Dean, that's why we laminate those PGC member badges !!! Congratulations !!! (Photo by Jack Goritski)

PGC CLASS OF 2008
PRIVATE	FIRST SOLO	CERTIFICATE
Dean Bennett	5/18/08	8/25/08
Michael Peterson		8/25/08
Kyle Coulson	9/21/08
George Mark	10/5/08
Andy Carazo	10/26/08
Brett Hanley	10/26/08
Joe Garay		10/31/08
Jim O’Neill	11/12/08
Pat Zuccarini	11/12/08
Tom McCarthy	11/29/08
COMMERCIAL
John Carlyle		9/18/08
Zsolt Silberer		10/31/08

And Yes !!! (top photo), Dean is jumped by three damp assasins !!! (Photo by Jack Goritski)

Dean Bennett - Certification - 8/25/08 - It only took another three months for Dean to dry out ... and take the check-ride for his private pilot certification. Dean completed his ride 'high and dry' and got the secret FAA handshake from Randy Rickert. Congratulations, Dean !!! (Photo by Joe Beyer)

Michael Peterson - Certification - 8/25/08 - Mike Peterson 'Aces' his FAA check-ride with examiner, Randy Rickert - and gets the secret handshake. Mike, I'm hoping you walk in TP2's footsteps and jump into XC when you get some experience ... let's see ... how about 'MP2'?. Congratulations, Mike !!! (Photo by Tom Peterson)

Mike's main instructors, Ed Ingram and Chip Fitzpatrick, share the spotlight with the new pilot. (Photo above by Tom Peterson)

John Carlyle - Commercial - 9/18/08 - Q3 is all smiles as he gets the official FAA handshake from Randy Rickert after successfully completing his Commercial check-ride. Congratulations, John !!! (Photo on left by Norm Price)

George Mark - First Solo - 10/5/08 - George is a study in concentration as he gets ready for his first solo takeoff on the left.

George does the obligatory right-stuff glider pilot pose for GQ (below) after completing his first solo. Hey George ... do you feel a damp wind approaching?

George gets the a solo handshake from his instructor (left below) Phil Jones. We didn't catch any of the traditional wet-down action, but George is clearly a little damp ... and Phil looks like he had a dump system problem. Hey Phil ... the student is supposed to get hit by most of the water!?. Congratulations George !!! (Photos by Phil Jones)

Zsolt Silberer (top)- Commercial - 10/31/08 - Zsolt did not see the Great Pumpkin, but he did get the secret FAA handshake after successfully ace-ing his Commercial check-ride with RR on Halloween. Congrats, Zsolt!!! (Photo by Beyer)

Andy Carazo (top) - Solo - 10/26/2008 - Andy gets a PGC Congrats from his instructor, Chip Fitzpatrick, after successfully completing his first solo at PGC a chilly Sunday afternoon.

Andy Carazo (left) - Solo - 10/26/2008 - It is a good thing that Andy, a native of Puerto Rico where the water is always warm, jumped out of helicopters in the Navy as a rescue swimmer in places where the water was neither warm or friendly. Andy gets presidential treatment in the photo the left as Bob Lacovara and a helper administer the rite of passage. Congrats, Andy !!! (Andy's photos/reporting by Fitzpatrick)

Jim O'Neill - Solo - 11/12/2008 - Jim gets a warm solo handshake from his instructor, Joel. Unknown to Jim, this would the last warm moment he would have for the rest of the afternoon, because as we know, "Everybody loves to congratulate the new solo pilot!"

Jim O'Neill - Solo - 11/12/2008 - There was no mercy in the crowd despite the cool temps. Andy was loaded for bear (above) and he was looking to do some "paying back" from his solo two weeks prior - in this case the target was newly minted solo pilot, Jim O’Neill. Jim looks like he is trying to talk his way out of a drenching ... Andy ain't buying it !!!

(Jim's Photos and reporting by Klaus Esser)

With Niagra falls-like volume, Jim gets the traditional PGC dousing (photo left) from both Andy and Jack. However, Jim was still flying high after changing into dry clothes and sharing thoughts about the experience. Jim’s one word for the experience was “WOW”. Congratulations on your solo, Jim !!!.

Pat Zuccarini - Solo - 11/8/2008 - Pat, a friend and fellow car phanatic of Jack Goritski’s , joined the club in July 2008 and quickly progressed to soloing. Pat commented that while Jack’s flight instruction was really great, his motivation was to get Jack out of the back seat as soon as possible.

While Pat is distracted doing his Tom Cruise imitation for PGC photogs, Jack quietly moves into position to either 1/ Clean the Grob canopy ... or 2/ Wipe that warm smile off of Pat's face. Hmmmm, I wonder which it will be ???

After a perfect landing Pat gets a well deserved congratulatory hand shake (above) from Jack. But is that all he will get? Certainly not at PGC!

(Pat's photos and reporting by Klaus Esser)

Jack nails Pat directly between the shoulder blades .... and guess what? ... he never flinched or stopped smiling ... the kid has the Right Stuff !!! Way to go, Pat! Congratulations !!!

Brett Hanley - Solo - 10/26/2008 - Brett aced is his first solo in late in October and Chip Fitzpatrick took the first photo - where Brett is obvously happy and content. Brett then became very busy trying to avoid PGC's rite of Solo Passage ... but some things are just unavoidable ... as the third photo shows. Congratulations on your Solo, Brett !!!!

Kyle Coulson - Solo - 9/21/2008 - Kyle has to take one last checkride ... and wants to look cool in his red hoodie, but his shoelace hangs up on the compass - and he is stuck until Chip frees him - I hate when that happens!

Kyle aces the pre-solo checkride and Chip gives him the thumbs up for his solo - the takeoff is perfect !!!

Mom watchs the perfect takeoff ... and the other observers give scores ... "Looks like a 9.5 ... No, I think it's a 10" ... Chip is awed by Kyle's skill - and only wishes his partner had half the talent.

Kyle has no problem with his first solo (was there any doubt?) ... and Chip and others administer the PGC rite of Solo Passage. Congratulations, Kyle !!! (Hey Dude, can you say 'Cross-country Sailplane Racing')

(Kyle's photos by Len Coulson)

Tom McCarthy - Solo - 9/29/2008 - Tom is actually a power-pilot and a CFI instructing with Horton Aviation. Tom joined PGC and has been working with Chip Fitzpatrick to add a glider rating to his resume. Chip signed him off for solo on this chilly Saturday morning. Tom's takeoff is perfect !!!

Chip watches his student as he floats over PGC ... and even catches a few thermals on this wonderful Saturday ... a gift for the last weekend in November.

Tom lands and gets the secret solo handshake from Chip ... and everyone thinks he is probably safe from the Solo Right Of Passage as the water has been turned off at PGC for the winter ... the outside air temperature is a very chilly 37 degrees.

But No !!! ... there is no escaping this long tradition, as Andy Carazo and George Mark locate some barely unfrozen water - and Tom joins the PGC chapter of the Polar Bear Club. Hard to tell if that is a smile or a grimace. Congratulations Tom !!!

(Tom's photos by Chip Fitzpatrick)