08/19/2026
Congratulations to Max — Our Newest Private Pilot
Please join me in congratulating Max on passing his FAA Private Pilot checkride!
August 18 was a beautiful day in New Holstein, Wisconsin, and one that Max will remember for a very long time.
Max arrived well prepared for both the oral and flight portions of his checkride. After more than an hour of being thoroughly questioned during the oral exam, it was time to head out to ENPWI’s RV-12, N925EN—the airplane Max has flown so many times throughout his training.
After departing New Holstein, Max worked his way through the required flight maneuvers, including steep turns, stalls, turns around a point, and S-turns across a road. He performed the maneuvers with the confidence and precision that comes from many hours of preparation and practice.
Then came the return to New Holstein for the short-field and soft-field landings.
This is often the point in a checkride when the nerves really start to kick in. Not for Max. He remained calm, focused, and flew the airplane with confidence and skill.
And then came the words every student pilot works so hard to hear:
“Congratulations—you passed!”
The look on Max’s face said it all. Pure excitement, relief, pride, and a permanent grin!
Becoming a private pilot is an incredible accomplishment. It takes dedication, studying, persistence, countless hours of training, and the ability to perform when it matters most. Max put in the work, and on August 18, it all paid off.
Congratulations, Max! We are incredibly proud of you and cannot wait to see where aviation takes you next.
Welcome to the very special group of people who can call themselves a PILOT!
Blue skies, Max!
