About
Todd O'Brien
Founder, Chief Instructor
CFI/CFII/MEI/ATP/GV
Meet the Team
Todd loves aviation and has been flying since 2007. In nearly 4,000 hours of flight time he has flown a wide variety of general aviation and military aircraft and currently flies a Gulfstream G550 professionally. He has worldwide experience with landings in over 55 countries in nearly every weather condition imaginable. His passion for flight instruction led him to found Solid Ground Aviation to help share this experience with pilots of all experience levels.
In addition to the services offered by Solid Ground, Todd is available for flight instruction in your aircraft. You can contact him at:
todd@flysolidground.com
Text/Call: 240-244-3593
Marty Sacks
Instructor
CFI/CFII
Marty loves teaching aviation. His over 40 years of flying experience began with his father when he first caught the flying bug. After years of flying on his own, he developed a passion for flight instruction and has been teaching ever since. Marty devotes much of his time and instruction to the Civil Air Patrol where he has the opportunity to operate state of the art avionics but is certainly no stranger to the diversity of equipment found in the general aviation fleet.
Todd Breese
Instructor
CFI/CFII/MEI/ATP
Todd has been flying professionally for over 41 years. He started his career as an active duty Naval aviator flying and instructing in the S-3 Viking, T2 Buckeye, and the C-130 Hercules. He held numerous duty assignments including chief evaluator and commander of two Navy squadrons. After retiring from the Navy, Todd flew as an international captain and test pilot for FedEx on the Airbus A300. Since retiring, Todd has returned to the general aviation world bringing his wealth of experience and a passion for teaching.
Location
We are located at the Tipton Airport (KFME)
Our building is next to the FBO building. Our sign is on the wall!
Mike Allen
Instructor
CFI/CFII
Mike started his flying career flying gliders in England over 60 years ago. After moving to the U.S. and converting his UK licenses to FAA ones he began a long career of flight instructing in all kinds off light aircraft (including his favorite J3 Cub) and has amassed an impressive 7,000 hours of flight instruction given. When he is not instructing the next generation of aviators Mike enjoys flying Angel flights for patients in need of transportation.
Jeff Barnett
Instructor
CFI/CFII/MEI/ATP/FE
Jeff brings a variety of experience as a professional flight instructor and former charter/airline pilot. After nearly a decade of instructing Jeff spent time flying Learjets and Turboprop commuter aircraft for USAir Express. He returned to flight instruction and has since passed 4,000 hours of instruction given. He particularly enjoys teaching instrument students in a variety of avionics. When he is not teaching, Jeff takes his Cessna 182 on family trips all over the country.