Great Basin Aviation

Huge congratulations to Reed Hagmueller on his first solo flight! 🎉✈️
Some students learn to fly airplanes. Reed is learning to fly airplanes while simultaneously figuring out how to make them faster.
Reed’s goal is to become an aerospace engineer designing supersonic jet engines, which means his version of casual aviation conversation is probably a little different than everyone else’s. While the rest of us are impressed by an airplane flying at all, Reed is already wondering how it could go Mach 2.
When he’s not studying the future of aviation, Reed spends his time traveling and scuba diving. He’s already explored half of Europe, proving that sitting still has never really been part of the plan. Whether it’s underwater, across the world, or 3,000 feet over northern Nevada, Reed is always looking for the next adventure.
Today that adventure brought him to one of the biggest milestones in flight training: his first solo flight right here in Reno.
To make the day even more special, Reed’s entire family came out to watch. No pressure, just your biggest supporters gathered to witness you take off alone in an airplane for the first time. Easy.
A huge shoutout to his instructor, Greg Anthenien, for helping guide Reed to this accomplishment. Greg has had the opportunity to watch Reed’s skills and confidence grow throughout training, and today all that hard work paid off.
Reed is smart, driven, and the kind of student who’s always eager to learn more. We’re incredibly excited to watch where aviation takes him next.
And if, twenty years from now, you’re cruising around behind some revolutionary supersonic engine, don’t be surprised if Reed had something to do with it.
Congratulations on the solo, Reed! The skies are just the beginning. ✈️🚀

Huge congratulations to Julius Lorentzen on earning his Private Pilot Certificate! 🎉✈️
If you’ve met Julius, there’s a good chance the first thing you noticed is that he’s incredibly nice. The second thing you noticed is that he’s approximately 11 feet tall.
Julius has been a fantastic student to have around GBA. He’s always positive, always humble, and somehow manages to make flying look a lot less stressful than it actually is. Which is impressive, because between flight training, preparing for a baby girl on the way, and enduring life as a Patriots fan, he’s had plenty on his plate.
Before aviation, Julius spent time playing professional golf, which explains a lot. Flying and golf have more in common than people realize. Both require careful planning, precise ex*****on, and a willingness to pretend the last mistake never happened.
When he’s not flying, you’ll likely find him on a golf course, searching for great sushi, or getting ready for the arrival of his baby girl. It’s going to be a big adjustment, but after surviving flight training, we’re confident he’s ready for at least some level of sleep deprivation.
A huge shoutout goes to his instructor, Cory Kleidosty, who had the privilege of helping Julius navigate the journey from student pilot to private pilot. Earning a PPL takes dedication, hard work, and persistence, and Julius brought all three every step of the way.
With a new certificate in his pocket and a baby girl arriving soon, it’s safe to say Julius has some exciting adventures ahead of him. The good news is that one of them now comes with an airplane.
Congratulations, Julius! We’re proud of you and can’t wait to see where aviation takes you next. ✈️🎉🏌️‍♂️

Huge congratulations to Isaac Gharagozian on being named Great Basin Aviation’s Pilot of the Month and completing his first solo flight today! 🎉✈️
Most students are pretty happy to check one major milestone off the list. Isaac apparently looked at that idea and said, “Why not both?”
Isaac is currently studying engineering at UNR, which probably explains a lot. He’s incredibly sharp, picks up concepts quickly, and has been one of those students who consistently stays ahead of the curve. In fact, he completed his ground school remarkably early in his training, giving himself a strong foundation long before many students even start thinking about the written exam.
When he’s not studying engineering or flying airplanes, Isaac somehow finds time for what he describes as “way too many expensive hobbies.” Depending on the season, you’ll find him skiing, mountain biking, or finding some other creative way to turn money into adrenaline.
A huge shoutout to his instructor, Trey, who has had the pleasure of watching Isaac’s progress firsthand. As a fellow engineering major, Trey quickly recognized the familiar engineering tendency to want to understand everything before moving on. Fortunately for Isaac, that attention to detail has translated exceptionally well to the cockpit.
Then came today’s big moment.
Isaac launched into the pattern at Silver Springs by himself for the very first time, joining a club that every pilot remembers for the rest of their life. Solo day is when all those lessons, study hours, and hard work finally come together. It’s the day training starts turning into confidence, and confidence starts turning into capability.
And somehow, that wasn’t even his only accomplishment today.
Being named Pilot of the Month is a huge achievement. Completing your first solo is a huge achievement. Pulling off both on the same day? That’s a pretty strong way to make a statement.
Congratulations, Isaac, on an incredible day and two well-deserved accomplishments. We can’t wait to see what’s next.
Just try not to pick up any more expensive hobbies before then. 😎✈️🎉

Congratulations to Evan Gray on earning his Instrument Rating!
If there were a checklist for being a true Nevadan, Evan would have it covered: flying, hunting, camping, hardworking, and even a little line dancing when he’s not in the cockpit. And much like a good two-step, earning an instrument rating is all about staying in rhythm, trusting the process, and keeping your feet moving even when you can’t see the whole dance floor.
As a Reno Air Race Association scholarship recipient, Evan has made every opportunity count. Through a combination of hard work, dedication, and an attitude that’s positive no matter the challenge, he’s steadily built an impressive aviation resume. In fact, he’s probably one of the most experienced scholarship recipients out there, already having logged time in more than 14 different aircraft types.
That kind of aircraft diversification isn’t just impressive, it’s valuable. Each airplane teaches something different, helping build adaptability, decision-making skills, and a deeper understanding of aviation that will benefit him for years to come.
What stands out most about Evan, though, isn’t the number of airplanes he’s flown or certificates he’s earned. It’s the way he approaches every challenge with a smile, a willingness to learn, and the determination to keep improving. Whether it’s in the air, in the mountains, or on the dance floor, he always seems ready for the next step.
A huge congratulations as well to his instructors, Andrew Spanier and Lucas Murphy, for helping guide him through this accomplishment.
Evan, you’ve successfully navigated through the clouds and earned your next rating. Keep dancing your way through aviation, we can’t wait to see what step comes next. 👏

Huge congratulations to Nolan Bader on his first solo! 🎉✈️
If you’ve spent any time around Nolan, you know he’s the type of guy who’s always got something going on. A Reno native, outdoor enthusiast, dog lover, and world traveler who’s already visited 10 countries, Nolan somehow still found time to learn how to fly.
And apparently he’s a natural at it.
From the beginning, Nolan has made flying look a little too easy. He picks things up quickly, stays cool under pressure, and has a knack for making even the challenging parts of training look effortless.
Under the guidance of Andy Glenn, Nolan recently took off from Runway 26 at Stead and completed his first solo flight like a pro.
While Nolan has shown excellent risk management in the airplane, the same can’t always be said for his culinary adventures.
Just weeks before soloing an airplane, Nolan managed to slice his finger open making guacamole at 5:00 in the morning and ended up needing stitches. Most people would assume the dangerous part of Nolan’s week would involve flying an aircraft by himself for the first time. Nope. It was an avocado.
Nolan is always smiling, always up for an adventure, and always brings a great attitude to GBA. Watching his progress has been a lot of fun, and it’s been no surprise to see him reach this milestone.
Congratulations, Nolan! We knew you would crush it. Maybe just stay away from sharp kitchen knives for a little while. 👏🥑✈️

Sam is a Commercial Pilot!! If you’ve spent any time around GBA lately, you’ve probably noticed Sam. Between flying, studying, earning ratings, and somehow still finding time to disappear into the mountains, we’re starting to suspect he has a clone.
Growing up in Quincy, Sam has always been an outdoors guy through and through. When he’s not flying, you’ll likely find him mountain biking, skiing, exploring somewhere off the beaten path, or taking incredible photos along the way. Honestly, some of his photography is so good we’re not entirely convinced he didn’t hike to the top of a mountain just to make the rest of our Instagram feeds look bad.
One of the things that stands out most about Sam is his motivation. He shows up prepared, asks great questions, and puts in the work every single time. His progression through training has been impressive, but anyone who knows him isn’t surprised. When Sam decides he wants to accomplish something, he gets after it.
That determination recently paid off with a huge milestone: earning his Commercial Pilot Certificate. Achieving a commercial certificate takes a tremendous amount of dedication, skill, and consistency, and Sam made it look almost effortless.
His instructor, Greg Anthenien, has had a front row seat to that journey. Together they’ve made a great team, and Greg has watched Sam continue to grow into a confident, capable pilot with every rating he earns.
Beyond his flying skills, Sam is simply one of those people everyone likes having around the airport. He’s always smiling, always positive, and somehow manages to be in a good mood no matter what’s going on. Delayed flight? Smiling. Tough lesson? Smiling. Early morning briefing? Still smiling. We’re not sure what his secret is, but we’d like some.
Congratulations, Sam, on earning your Commercial Pilot Certificate! We’re excited to see where aviation takes you next. Knowing Sam, whatever the goal is, he’s probably already halfway there.











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