Students – Flying Musicians Association, Inc.

Will Solos

December 28, 2020December 28, 2020FMA1

Soloing an aircraft is one of the greatest achievements, remembered forever, by a pilot. FMA student member, Will Adcox, soloed on December 4, 2020. Below is his account of this momentous event. On December 4, 2020, I had just gotten out of school and was going to what I thought would be a normal flight lesson. After I pre-flighted the plane, my instructor took me inside the flight school and had me fill out a form for my first solo. Before I knew it, I finished two touch-and goes with my flight instructor and he was telling me that he would step out of the plane and that I would… Read More

Jacob Solos

November 24, 2020November 24, 2020FMA1

The final 2020 FMA Solo recipient has soloed. Jacob Burdette from Ohio has flown an aircraft, alone, on November 21, 2020, all while attending Kent State University, studying aviation, and performing with Kent State Marching Golden Flash. Jacob accomplished this with the assistance of Paul Marchky, flight instructor, in a Cessna 152 (Kemt 2) at the Kent State University flight school. “I finally got to fly a plane by myself for the first time after 16 hours of training, and I felt invincible. I will never forget November 21, 2020. I taxied to the runway and lined up with the centerline and pushed the throttle to full power. Before I… Read More

Jennifer Solos

November 19, 2020November 19, 2020FMA1

Pharmacist Fills Flight Prescription Jennifer Miller came one step further to her lifelong dream of becoming a pilot on November 6, 2020 by flying a Light Sport aircraft as its sole occupant. Miller, originally from Texas, has been receiving flight training for nearly five months at AvSport LLC, the sport flying school on the Piper Memorial Airport. “Jennifer has immersed herself in her studies,” says Prof. H. Paul Shuch, her flight instructor and the founder of AvSport. “She has become an active member of several aviation organizations, including the Flying Musicians Association, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and the 99s, the international association of woman pilots. Through those memberships,… Read More

Chloe Solos

November 18, 2020November 19, 2020FMA1

Chloe Litteral is a 2020 FMA Solo finalist from Lake Charles, Louisiana. We are so happy and proud of her. She is already a very valuable member of the FMA network. “After completing King’s School Aviation Course online on 9/15/2020, I took the FAA exam on 9/25/2020 and passed. Much of my course prep was during the months of August and September. Difficulty in course prep came when both Hurricane Laura and Delta hit our hometown. The sound of our generator running to provide electricity for our home was unbearable at times but I pushed through the abnormalities knowing it would not be forever. I started flight instruction immediately after… Read More

2020 FMA Solo Recipient Solos

September 24, 2020September 24, 2020FMA1No Comments

On a beautiful September evening, Jake Myers soloed in a Bristell Aircraft at Carlisle Business Airport (N94) in Carlisle, PA. Jake accomplished this feat in 10.9 hours under the tutelage of CFI Jon Still, Still Flying LLC, and Sport Flying USA Services. “I completed my first solo flight!!! It was amazing. I did three takeoffs and three landings all by myself. They were great too, no problems at all.” – Jake Myers. Read all about this wonderful event and more from the beginning of Jake’s journey at FMAsolo.org. There, you will also be able to follow Jacob Burdette’s (2nd 2020 FMA Scholarship recipient) journey while attending Kent State. CONGRATULATIONS JAKE!… Read More

Nathan Solos

June 25, 2020June 29, 2020FMA1No Comments

Nathan Baxley, a 2020 FMA Solo finalist from Alabama, soloed on June 23, 2020 at Shelby County Airport (KEEF) with Over The Mountain Aviation in a Cessna 172. Nate’s CFI is Mark Scardino. ”I’m 17 years old, and i just flew solo for the first time. it feels amazing to have taken such a huge step towards my lifelong goal of becoming a pilot.” – Nathan Baxley Congratulations Nate About Nathan: I am a Junior from Birmingham, Alabama. I have wanted to be a pilot for as long as I can remember. Two of my great-grandfathers were pilots, one of them flying P-47s in WWII. I grew up near Tyndall… Read More

Jacob Solos

June 23, 2020June 23, 2020FMA1No Comments

2020 FMA Solo finalist, Jacob Tidwell from Benton, Arkansas, soloed on June 16, 2020 with the Central Arkansas Flying Club at Saline County Regional Airport (KSUZ), in Bryant, AR. Jacob’s instructor is Mike Williamson who is also the president of the club The aircraft Jacob has trained in and soloed in is a Cessna Skyhawk 172E. “After a month and a half, and 14.2 flight hours, I had my first solo flight. The feeling of freedom was amazing, and all 8 landings felt good (even if a couple weren’t actually). Since my first solo, I have soloed a couple more times, and soon I will start my cross countries. I have… Read More

Outstanding 2019 FMA Solo Recipient

June 9, 2020June 9, 2020FMA1

By awarding Navya Pottumutu a BOSE A20 headset, FMA acknowledges Navya’s dedication while staying engaged as the most outstanding recipient of the 2019 FMA Solo program. Navya not only crushed her goals but was a stellar ambassador growing with each interaction while inspiring others. We thank BOSE and BOSE Aviation for their continued support by donating this wonderful headset – BOSE A20 Aviation Headset using Noise Reduction Technology. Navya will be able to protect her ears while flying making possible her continued love for making music. How amazing is it when a student pushes forward in spite of the hardships to accomplish a goal. Every year we have the hard… Read More

Balancing Aviation & Music

May 28, 2020June 25, 2020FMA1

Student member, Dylan Mardoian, wrote an article for the spring issue of AviNation. Dylan is attending Western Michigan University and performs with the Bronco marching band. Click the image below to read the full article which can be found on pages 40 & 41.

Jonah Solos

May 7, 2020June 4, 2020FMA1No Comments

Jonah Dujanovic Soloed at the Phoenix East Aviation in Daytona Beach, Florida. Jonah was an FMA Solo nominee from the class of 2019. His dedication to aviation and music continues to pay dividends. Jonah has been a frequent volunteer and pianist at the DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase in Florida. We are proud to have him in the FMA network. “As I applied full power I thought to myself, “no turning back now, it’s all up to me.” With a deep breath, I took off. Once I was in the air the adrenaline was really going, a small part of me was scared, part of me was nervous, and the rest… Read More

Category: Students