Welcome

EAA Chapter 393


Our featured member for August, 2022 is Ryan Baillie.   Ryan embodies what aviation is about.  He is serving as the Vice President of EAA Chapter 393 in addition to being a Certified Flight Instructor (more on this later) and earning a living flying with JSX out of Oakland, CA.

Ryan getting paid doing what he loves


Aviation has always been a passion for Ryan since his grandfather introduced him to flying as a child.  He had his first GA flight when he was in Boy Scouts, completing the aviation merit badge, during a Chapter 393 Young Eagles flight on 10/27/2002.  Ryan “caught the bug” and thanks our pilot, Duane Allen for introducing him to our avocation.

He originally took lessons from Sterling Aviation at Buchanan Field and logged about 20 hours between 2011-2013.  He purchased a Piper Warrior II in June, 2017 and with an independent instructor he had his Private Pilot Certificate in his hand in March, 2018.

Ryan's Piper Warrior II


Between 2018-2022 Ryan has accomplished and attained the following ratings:

Commercial Pilot Certificate – ASEL/AMEL

Instrument

EMB-145 Type Rating

Flight Instructor – ASEL/AMEL/Instrument

 Ground Instructor – Advanced/Instrument

Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft System

“I love flying for vacations to explore new places, meet new people and see new things.  Flying my own airplane is heck of a lot better than flying on the airlines!  I can’t even begin to describe the sights, experiences and relationships aviation has brought me that I never would have had before.” 

He enjoys doing animal rescue flights for Pilots N Paws.  His dog Loki  just flies for fun when Ryan is flying or teaching.  Ryan is stimulated by the challenges that flying brings and his being able to share his passion with others and expose them to the fun and convenience that aviation offers.  Ryan was blessed enough to turn his passion into a career where he now gets paid to do what he loves.

Ryan flying his Piper Warrior II with Loki on a his way to a Search & Rescue training event.

Ryan joined our Chapter in 2017 and became a Lifetime National member when he realized he couldn’t kick the aviation habit.

Ryan flies his Warrior II and other flying club/student planes when instructing students from Buchanan or Livermore airports.  He is interested in building a plane someday but he needs the time , money and most importantly, the patience to tackle a building project.  He knows building a plane project would be rewarding and that his impatience could affect the outcome.  Recognizing this point alone lets us know that Ryan is a good pilot.  He knows his limitations!

Ryan Flies his Warrior II and other flying club/student planes when instructing students from Buchanan or Livermore airports.  He is interested in building a plane someday but he needs the time , money and most importantly, the patience to tackle a building project.  He knows building a plane project would be rewarding and that his impatience could affect the outcome.  Recognizing this point alone lets us know that Ryan is a good pilot.  He knows his limitations.

In the experimental world Ryan has flown a SeaRey, Zenith Zodiac, and Lancair IV (Thanks to Harvard and Sara Holmes).  He is looking forward to spending more time with experimental aircraft in the future.  The author thinks this is a hint to our members.  If any member is looking for a flying buddy, Ryan is your man.

When asked about his favorite flying memories Ryan immediately answered.

“I think a big one is taking people for their first GA flight. I have done that around 65 times. The most gratifying ones are the people that fear flying and through explanation and a good flight they are then comfortable and do not have the fear anymore and actually enjoy aviation. Seeing that $#!# eating grin on someone’s face that they just can’t hold back on their first flight and knowing you did that to them is magical.”

I doubt anyone of us could express this feeling any better than Ryan has.

We all have our likes and dislikes about flying, and here are Ryan’s thoughts.

I like the freedom it gives me, the adventures, and the people I’ve met, the places I’ve been and the fact there’s always somewhere else I can go or something I can do for fun or to help someone or something with the plane.  The thing I dislike the most is the cost (pronounced I don’t have unlimited money to fly all day every day in various airframes like I want to haha).  I bet the dislike will always be there even when he has the money to do all the flying he wants.

His favorite destination is Utah, specifically St. George and Moab and the areas in between.  There is just something magical about that area. ”When I flew into there, I was really taken back about how little and insignificant I was in this amazingly beautiful world. No real way to describe it and pictures do no justice”.

Canyonlands near Moab, Utah


It sounds like Ryan would prefer to spend all his time airborne, but he does participate in many other activities.

Ryan enjoys motorcycling, mountain biking and firearms.  He has never really been interested in traditional sports or wearing spandex.  He enjoys hiking, camping, and most anything outdoors he can do with his dog Loki.

He loves music!  He has played guitar since he was 12 years old and dabbles with other instruments. Primarily he plays guitar and bass but also a little ukulele, piano, and drums.  He was in three rock bands including lead guitar in an original rock band, rhythm guitar in a Scorpions tribute band, and bassist in an original metal band.

 He has also owned and operated a live sound production company for about 4 years providing sound/lighting and DJ services in the bay area for small/medium sized crowds up to around 500 people.  Life and work are now in the way and he is not currently involved with any bands, but he has a rehearsal studio in his house with all the various instruments and tries to play regularly.  Anyone wanna jam?

He also enjoys photography and videography doing the editing of both while working on fun and funny projects.

As you can see Ryan keeps himself busy with aviation, sports and music.  He has many items on his ‘bucket list’ and one of them is to make a trip to the airmen mecca, Airventure at Oshkosh. 

Ryan is an accomplished pilot, musician and just a great addition to EAA Chapter 393.

 Copyright Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 393, Concord, California 

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