Flight Training: Instructors

One of the things which sets Chesapeake Sport Pilot apart from most other flight schools is our commitment to hiring only the most dedicated and experienced instructors. Unlike most other flight schools, our instructors are experienced pilots and teachers, who instruct out of a passion for sharing their love of flight with others.

Tim Adelman: Owner

Tim started flying with his father in 1982. Two months before his 16th birthday, Tim started taking flying lessons. His goal was to solo before he got his driver's license. On the morning of his 16th birthday he soled at Frederick Municipal Airport and then walked over to the MVA to get his driver's license. During college Tim added his instrument rating and commercial rating. While in law school, he became a certificated flight instructor. He has been instructor for the past ten  years and now focuses on light sport aircraft.

Luther Alexander

Luther Alexander grew-up in Wichita, Kansas, which calls itself "The Air Capital of the World," because it was the home of the Cessna, Boeing, Beech, and LearJet aircraft manufacturing companies. Due to work-related moves as an adult, Luther has flown (and instructed) in the Great Plains, New England, Florida, California, Hawaii and, of course, the mid-Atlantic states. He has been a Flight Instructor for nearly 30 years and is licensed to give Instrument Airplane and Multi-Engine flight instruction. Luther and his wife live in Annapolis, and have two adult daughters.

Rose Bult

After marrying and raising three great kids, Rose Noyes decided to become a flight instructor and realize her dream of chasing sunbeams in the endless blue sky. Flying full time has been her profession since 1999 and she has worked at a variety of flight places from friendly "mom and pop" schools to military flying clubs to big "airline training" academies. After so many hours flying and instructing her outlook on flying is basic- have fun and show each student the right way to think in an airplane. She loves it when a student has an "aha!" moment and takes another step up the ladder to his or her goal. She doesn't let the seemingly complex rules of flight and the airplane systems intimidate her students- mastery of the details is fun and fulfilling. When she is not flying, she logs a lot of flight time on commercial airliners traveling the world with her husband Jan and getting an occasional jump seat privilege with European carriers. She enjoys windsurfing, road cycling, cross country skiing, painting, and cooking. She only wishes she didn’t have to sleep!

Ben Cater

Ben became interested in flight at a young age when his neighbor began teaching him how to fly in his twin Cessna. Bens neighbor, Najeeb Halaby, was a retired WWII test pilot for the Navy and was one of the first FAA administrators appointed by President Kennedy. At age 14 Ben was ready to solo but was also one of the ones who had to wait the eternity to reach his 16th birthday. Ben continued adding ratings while attending college and also became a state trooper with the Maryland State Police. Ben now flies as a state trooper pilot and also works as a contract pilot flying corporate jets. Ben has been a part time flight instructor since 2004. Twenty years later Ben’s mother would marry Najeeb Halaby and Ben took him on his last flight before his passing in 2003.

Tim Collins

Tim Collins has been flying with Chesapeake Sport Pilot since 2008, but has been involved with aviation since 1978. He is an Air Force command pilot and has flown the A-10, E-3 B/C, F-16 A/B/C/D, KC-10, RQ-4, T-37, T-38, T-41, as well as a wide range of general aviation aircraft. With over 3,400 flying hours (including 1,000+ hours as an instructor and evaluator pilot) and extensive flying experience in combat, Tim has FAA Commercial Privileges (Airplane Single and Multi-engine Land; Glider; Instrument), Instructor Privileges (original issue 1980), and holds a Type Rating (Boeing 707/720). He is a certified ‘Board President’ for aviation accidents/mishaps. Tim is an adjunct instructor for aviation safety-related undergraduate/graduate courses for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, in addition to teaching advanced aviation technologies for graduate students at the Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering. Tim is professionally associated with the National Affiliation of Flight Instructors, the Order of Dadelians, and serves as a designated Soaring Society of America Flight Instructor. Tim has been an FAA Aviation Safety Counselor, and spends his free time flying and playing golf.

David Frostbutter

Dave’s his first airplane ride was soon after birth. He spent many hours (maybe more upside down than right side up) as a passenger with his father. Needless to say he was smitten at an early age. He obtained his Private license in 1970, the commercial, instrument and CFI in 1976, the CFII in 2001 and has been an active flight instructor since 1976. Dave has worked as an Aerospace Engineer at The Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory for 34 years and currently working in the R&D area with the FAA. He was a team member that developed the ADS-B technology which is now in the nation-wide implementation phase. Flying has been a life-long passion and looks forward to many more years in the air, sharing the experience with all who want a higher education.

Neal Guernsey

Neal was focused on flying from an early age. He joined Civil Air Patrol in high school just to get involved. As a midshipman at the Naval Academy, he earned his degree in Aerospace Engineering and also helped run the Midshipmen Flight Training Program in 1975. He was the first student to earn his Private Certificate from Friendship Flying Service at BWI under that program. He earned his Naval Aviator wings in 1976 and joined the fleet flying the A-7E Corsair off the USS Kitty Hawk (216 Carrier landings, but who’s counting?). Neal began instructing in A-7s for the Navy in 1980 at NAS Lemoore, CA. He earned his civilian CFI the same year and became President of the NAS Lemoore Flying Club. He enjoyed teaching in the same T-34B that he had soloed in Pensacola five years earlier. Neal left Active Duty in 1982 and joined the Reserves. He spent three years flying the UC-12B (Beechcraft King Air) from Andrews AFB. He has since retired from the Navy Reserves. After spending time in corporate America he has returned to his love of teaching flying. He recently taught midshipmen at Lee Airport through the Navy Annapolis Flight Center and has now decided to share the fun of Sport Flying. During the week, Neal works for the company that produces Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey and Disney On Ice.

Fred Herold

Fred started flying in 1949 by washing and cleaning planes in Hempstead Long Island while in High School. He did a stint in the Air Force from 1952 thru 1956 where, unfortunately they made him a Radar Technician due to his need for glasses so he did not fly. After his discharge he worked as a Technical Representative for Bendix Radio and spent the next 6 years overseas teaching the Air Force the operation and maintenance of search radar systems. During this time he had the chance to fly C-47, AT-6, L-19, L-20 and L-21 aircraft, all unofficially. Fred has owned his own Piper Aztec, Cessna 206 and most recently a highly modified 182 complete with Cunard wing and injected 260 HP engine. Fred founded Easton Proflight (later Chesapeake Proflight) in 1999 and was the chief Flight Instructor for both schools until he stopped flying three years ago for some spinal surgery. Fred has resumed his flying with Cheaspeake Sport Pilot and looks forward to training a new generation of pilots. Fred is a Commercial and Instrument Pilot and CFI, CFII, member of AOPA, EAA, and NAFI .

Fred Lagno

Fred started his flying career in San Angelo, Texas while attending Air Force Intelligence School at Goodfellow Air Force Base. He soloed in 1966 and began flying full time as a flight instructor at Bay Bridge Airport in 1971. In 1972 he started the first aviation ground school at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, MD. Fred’s experience includes cargo, commuter and airline flying in various aircraft including the Boeing 727, the DC9 and the Boeing 737-200, 300, and 400 models with 25,000+ hours flying time. He retired from USAirways in 2002. Fred is also the designer of numerous supplemental type certificates for electrical modifications to antique aircraft. He holds airline transport pilot, flight instructor airplane and instrument with a gold seal, ground instructor, flight engineer, airframe & powerplant mechanic, and aircraft inspector certificates.

Tom McKnight

Tom’s passion for airplanes began in the 1950’s when his uncle, a former Tuskegee Airman raised on the Eastern Shore, landed his surplus WWII aircraft on a grass strip near his home in Ridgely, Maryland. He soloed in 1972 at College Park airport while studying aerospace engineering at the University of Maryland. After graduation, Tom attended navigator training and was assigned to the old Strategic Air Command as a KC-135 tanker navigator. He still has fond memories of navigating over the ocean at 420 knots with only a sextant and dead reckoning! After retiring from the Air Force in 1994, he joined the faculty of Delaware State University as Chairman of the Airway Science Department. For the past couple of years, he has taught algebra at the same middle school he attended 45 years ago. Tom holds an airline transport pilot certificate, Gold Seal CFII/MEI, and advanced ground instructor certificates.

Dan Meier

Dan began flight lessons in 1956 at New Hanover county airport near Wilmington NC with Mr. Warren K. Penning ton, who soloed his jenny in 1919 and during the 1920s made a young man's living barnstorming around the country. After college, military service, marriage, Dan resumed the process of earning a private pilot certificate in 1971 at Lee Airport in Annapolis and by 1973 had acquired a commercial and flight instructor certificates. From 1974 until 1987 he served as an instructor for Annapolis flying service. In 1984 he was granted a designated pilot examiner authority by the Baltimore Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) and served in that capacity until 1987 when he was hired by the FAA and trained as an Aviation Safety Inspector for flight operations. He retired from the FAA in July 2006. Dan holds an airline transport pilot certificate, glider and single-engine seaplane ratings and a certificates for single, multi-engine airplane and instrument and a basic ground instruction.

Rick Smith

In 1996 Rick’s life long dream to fly became a reality, his wife bought him an introductory flight gift certificate for Christmas at the Bay Bridge Airport. By the end of the following year Rick had not only finished his private pilot certificate but purchased his first plane, a Cessna 172K which he meticulously restored. Rick soon became active in Angle Flight, a volunteer organization that flies sick children and adults in need of medical care to specialists around the country, and rose to the level of “community leader” within the organization. Rick enjoyed flying so much that he soon earned his instrument, commercial, flight instructor, and instrument flight instructor certificates and began instructing. He instructed independently and at several other local schools before joining the Chesapeake Sport Pilot staff where he enjoys working with dedicated students and professional instructors. Since joining the CSP staff Rick has completed light sport maintenance and Rotax certification. When he is not flying, Rick enjoys spending his free time with his family especially his three “gandbabies.”

Bob Snyder

Bob started flying in July of 1973 and obtained his private license in April of 1974. Bob became interested in the lighter side of aviation in 2003 by building and flying a Challenger II aircraft. Obtaining a seaplane rating in 2005 and converting the Challenger II to amphibious operations renewed a passion for flying while opening new experiences. Bob began teaching Sport Pilot and Ultra light flying in 2006. Currently an EAA Chapter president, Bob has completed three experimental aircraft and is currently building his fourth - the RV7. Teaching people to fly has been one of the most rewarding aviation experiences for Bob.

Chuck Wilson

Chuck started flying in 1959 at College Park and obtained his private pilot license in September 1960 at Lee Airport outside Annapolis. After military service, he used the G. I. Bill to obtain his commercial and airline transport pilot as well as flight instructor ratings for airplane, multi-engine airplane, instrument, and ground instructor. He began his flight instructing career at the Freeway Airport in Bowie in 1968 and taught there until 1980. He soon moved back to Lee Airport to continue instructing and was promoted to Chief Flight Instructor in 1994, when he was able to retire from the Capital Police Force and resume instructing full time. Chuck's resume also includes such interesting adventures as flying Spearman's in Mississippi at Johnny Door's Agricultural School, seaplanes in Florida at Jack Brown's Seaplane School, at J-3 Cubs at College Park.

Jim Wohlleber

Jim started flying in 1971 in Syracuse, New York after 5 years in the U.S.Navy. In 1972 he went to Greeley, Colorado to a professional flight school and later attended Colorado State University where he became the Chief Flight Instructor. From there, he became the Chief Pilot for a Denver company. Moving to Illinois in 1977, he flew a Falcon 10 and Westwind for corporations in the Midwest. Jim was soon hired by a commuter airline to fly Metro-liners out of O’Hare in 1986 and then was hired by Continental Airlines in 1987. He retired from Continental in 2005 after flying Boeing 737-300’s, the Airbus A300B4 and the Boeing 757 and 767-200/400 Internationally. Becoming bored with retirement he went to work as a B767 pilot for Vision Airlines in Virginia in April of 2008and flew government contract missions into Europe and the Middle East. He retired for the last time in January of 2009. Jim has been a CFI for 37 years and enjoys flying the Sky Arrow at CSP with new pilots and taking people up on introductory flights. He has about 25,000 hours of flying time.

Helen Woods

Helen has been a passionate general aviation pilot since 1998. A biologist by training, she spent several years serving as a search and rescue pilot and managing a search and rescue training program prior to accepting a job as a wildlife survey pilot. She earned recognition from the National Association of Flight Instructors as a Master Flight Instructor in 2009.  Today, as flight instructor and manager of Chesapeake Sport Pilot, she is dedicated to sharing her love of aviation with others through affordable, quality flight training.

Bob Wright

Bob started flying in 1994 receiving flight instruction from his son who has now moved on to bigger airplanes as an airline captain. To date we can discern no psychological damage from the role reversal between father and son. After adding commercial and instrument ratings Bob became a CFI in 2004 and has been an active instructor since that time.