On Monday, August 23 - Keith Walter proudly flew without his instructor for the first time. Keith is a commodities trader for DTE and has an MBA from the University of Michigan. He did his undergrad at MSU in computer engineering and has a masters degree in electrical engineering from Wayne State. Keith flies with Jayne.

On Friday August 6, Nate Corrigan was awarded his private pilot's license by Mary Carpenter at PTK. Nate's stellar check ride followed his 100% score on the written exam. He's a graduate of Saline High School and the University of Notre Dame. While he's not flying - Nate's a general manager at Corrigan Moving. We expect to see Nate flying 1377S and 120WE soon.

Check out the pictures of Nate and other private pilot's on this page. If you can find their solo pictures - you'll see that they have been transformed.

On Monday, July 26 - Jinping Nah was awarded her private pilot's license. Doug was her instructor. Jin comes to us from Singapore and is a graduate of the University of Michigan. She went from solo to private pilot in a little over 2 months. She's also a member of the Singapore Air Force.

On Monday, July 19 - Lynn Lau was awarded her private pilot's license by Bill Clark. Doug was her instructor. Lynn comes to us from Singapore and has recently finished her Masters degree in Aeronautical Engineering at a local university. She went from solo to private pilot in a little over 2 months.

On Wednesday June 16, Mike Smith-Wheelock was awarded his Private Pilot's license by Mary Carpenter. Mike came to us on his 50th birthday (February 2010) and four month's later is a private pilot. Mike works at UM, doing cataract surgery every Monday to pay for his aviating! He also logs 40-50 miles on his bike on an average day of bike riding! Mike has 2 teenage sons. Mike's instructor is Jayne.

Mike Wieckowski has been flying most of his life with his dad and has a good amount of time in a Sukhoi back home in Buffalo NY. Mike graduated from the University of Rochester where he met his wife Yana and got his PhD in electrical engineering prior to moving to Ann Arbor to do his post doctoral work at the University of Michigan. Other less important hobbies include indoor rock climbing, home improvement and cat herding (Mike & Yana are proud owners of three cats in their condo). Mike flies with Jayne. Mike and Yana are shown above enjoying their first flight together.

Nate Corrigan, Manager of Corrigan Moving Systems, a business his grandfather started in 1929, flew unassisted in 333UM for the first time on June 4, 2010. Nate has been pushing the envelope since he started by taking the FAA written the week he joined the club and scoring 100% ! Nate's daughter is next; she can't wait to fly! Nate went to Notre Dame, graduated in 2003 w/a degree in finance. He has worked in the family business ever since. Way to go, Nate! Nate's CFI is Jayne.

Congratulate Jinping Nah. She soloed for the first time on Sunday, May 23 in N222UM. Nah is a Michigan grad and a native of Singapore. Doug is her instructor.

Congratulate Lynn Lau. She soloed for the first time on Wednesday, May 12 in N222UM. Lynn is a graduate student and alum at Michigan. Doug is her instructor.

Congratulate Yunyuan Tay. He soloed for the first time on Friday, April 23 in N333UM. Yunyuan is a Junior at Michigan in the Aerospace Engineering program. Doug is his instructor.

Mike Smith-Wheelock has read biographies throughout his life about Aviation’s great heroes: Lindburgh, Yeager, Wright Bros, Astronauts like Jerry Linenger, Apollo by A. Bean, Skywalking by Thomas D Jones. Finally he decided to fulfill a lifetime goal of becoming a pilot himself! Mike’s first solo took place on April 11, 2010 when Jayne jumped out of the C-172 & he flew unassisted in the traffic pattern. He has flown with his buddy ENT Doc Alex Arts; now Mike can spin his own fate in N44316. Mike is a member of the teaching faculty of the Medical School and does surgeries Monday mornings in Ophthalmology at the Kellogg Center (Kellogg.umich.edu). Please don’t fly too low over the new Kellogg building or you’ll hit his corner office on the top floor. (Remember – how many ft over the tallest structure?) Congratulations on your first Solo, Mike!

Dave Antman flew for the first time today, April 10th, 2010, as a newly minted private pilot. Forces created a break in a week's string of TTRS just long enough for Dave to ace his check ride. Congratulations! PRIVATE PILOT! Dave has his sights set next on an instrument rating and an airplane of his own, but first he has a new job to start in July, relocation to Connecticut, and a baby son arriving soon! Hopefully Dave will find some time in the future between his many adventures to come visit us back at KARB, and maybe squeeze in a simulated alternator failure with Jayne for old times' sake. All the best from your fellow Flyers & Jayne - great job today, Dave!

Sarah of the Grandpa-Red-Camero, flew unassisted for the first time March 24. Sarah majored in neuroscience, graduating from UM in 2008. She is now Manager of the Sarter Lab where she studies attention in neuro-psychiatric disorders with mice and rats. She occasionally succeeds in WOWng us at a Gallery with a pretty amazing art project. Soon after she becomes a private pilot, she will either take a job with Servier (a pharmaceutical company) in France or head to Alaska this summer to hike, tramp through Denali, then get her float plane license there. Future travel will include joining a former roommate in Sierra Leone. Sarah flys with Jayne.

Congratulations Alex. On Friday March 5, 2010 - Alex Michel became a private pilot. His instructor is Doug Kovach. Alex is visiting us from Germany and is also a glider pilot. His next project is N1377S.

Scott Schaffer flew without his instructor for the first time on Saturday March 6, 2010. Scott's instructor is Jayne. Congratulations Scott !

Scott Schaffer started flying at the Michigan Flyers in January and wishes he had moved over to us a long time ago! He loves the safety precautions, the great attitude about flying, the camaraderie that he sees at our club. He flew elsewhere and has checked out all other nearby learning organizations for aviation. The Michigan Flyers is his 'el primo' choice. A former Visteon Engineer, with a lot of enthusiasm toward assisting High School kids have an introduction to Robotics, he now works in his own business. He declares that someday he will build an affordable aircraft for the public to enjoy. Congratulations, Scott!!! You did a fabulous job today!