Our Staff - Chesapeake Sport Pilot

Luther Alexander - CFI, CFII
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.

Manuel Amaya - CFI, CFII
Manny is DC native who earned his private to commercial pilot certificates as well a bachelors degree in Aeronautics from his alma mater Liberty University in 2013. This instructor has over 3,000 hours of flying UAS' in which he deployed 4 times to the Middle East as a civilian contractor. After he came home and started pursuing his flight instructor career in 2021. He started as a freelance instructor in the Seattle area while working for Amazon to test fly their drones to deliver packages. Manny fell in love with aviation when he took his first flight out of the country at 15 years old. He plans on being a flight instructor his entire life while flying private jets on the side.

Mike Bangert - CFI, CFII (Currently on leave)
Mike, a graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy, Class of 1970, began his aviation career with Navy flight training at Pensacola, FL. He went on to fly the P-3 Orion, both on active duty and in the Naval Reserve. His first introduction to general aviation took place in 1977at BWI flying the Grumman American Tiger, AA-5B, in the Naval Academy Flying Club. Later, he would serve as president of that club. In 1980, while living in Ohio, he began training for his Flight Instructor - Airplane, Instrument, Multi-Engine, and Glider Ratings. He enjoyed a successful career as a pilot for United Airlines, flying the Boeing 727, 757, 767, and 777 aircraft, retiring in 2007. With 18,000+ total hours and 1500+ hours of instruction given, he looks forward to expanding his range of knowledge and experience in Light Sport Aircraft and bringing the joy of flight to those he instructs.

Banjamin Bennett - CFI-S
Ben’s introduction to flying was an open-cockpit biplane ride at 13yrs old. He eagerly signed up for flight lessons as soon as he was old enough to drive himself to the airport, but quickly learned that he couldn’t afford them with his after-school job. More than a decade later, he returned to flying in 2014, becoming a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) for sport pilots, Advanced Ground Instructor (AGI), Instrument Ground Instructor (IGI), and Light-Sport Repairman (LSRM). Ben most enjoys the less traditional (but more fun) flying missions such as aerobatics, airport camping, open-cockpit gyroplanes, and seaplane lake-hopping.

Blue - Supervisor, Flight School Security Coordinator, and Pest Control Specialist
Originally hired as the company pest control specialist, Blue quickly promoted herself to the position of general supervisor and most recently has added on the roll of security coordinator. She oversees all day-to-day activities in both the flight school and the maintenance shop. Blue, is also an experienced mouser whose resume also includes the removal of additional small mammals, birds, reptiles, and dogs. She is dedicated to keeping the CSP premises free of vermin. When not patrolling the premises, Blue enjoys meeting and greeting our many CSP guests. An appropriate offering of a greeting and a head scratch are strongly recommended upon entering the CSP building when Blue is on duty.

Rose Bult - CFI, CFII
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!

Gary Capkovic - CFI
Gary was born and raised in Readying, PA and attended Penn State on a NROTC scholarship. After graduation he served 24 years active and reserve in the Navy and Army, mainly in the hardhat diving field, and was one of the last divers trained in the MK5. He later worked for 30+years as an Auto Appraiser and manager for 25 of which was with USAA. Gary started flying after the last call up for Desert Storm in 2003 and winning a lottery for 4000.00. He earned his private pilot certificate in 2005, and soon after his instrument, seaplane, and commercial ratings. Gary enjoys doing adventure flying trips and has flown to the Bahamas, US Rocky Mountains, southern border to northern border and from Anchorage AK via the trans Alaska highway back to the US completing over 1700hrs – in that process. Gary also taught SCUBA for 15 years and dove many of the famous dive locations around the world from the Pacific, Atlantic, and Mediterranean – including the Galapagos, and Cocos Islands.

Chris Criswell - CFI
Chris Criswell began flying in 2000 while completing his Bachelor of Science degree in Geography from Salisbury University. He has a Masters of Science degree in Information Technology. He holds an instrument, multi-engine commercial license and is a licensed Certified Flight Instructor with over 2000 hours of experience. In 2002 Chris joined the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Cartographer. He currently works at the FAA as a Project Manager within the Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) directorate. He is the AIM lead for international standards coordination with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). When he’s not flying or working at the FAA, Chris enjoys spending time with his wife Sarah and three children, Ryan, Tyler and Lauren.

Chris Fahey - CFI, CFII (Currently on leave)
Christopher started flying in 1985 in Monterey California and earned his private pilot certificate in Osan South Korea in 1987 while serving in the U.S. Air Force. Aviation has always been a cornerstone in his family as his grandfather was a pilot in WWII and 2 of his uncles who are also pilots. He has over a thousand hours of flight time most of which were accrued visiting places for business and pleasure with his wife and dogs. Christopher is a software developer by profession but enjoys sharing the sky with new, old and aspiring aviators. His favorite part of instructing is watching a student successfully perform a maneuver and afterwards exclaim with a large grin "that was fun!"

David Frostbutter - CFI, CFII (Currently on leave)
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.

Kathy Harkness - AGI
Kathy Harkness was introduced to flight when a rusty private pilot she was dating decided he needed a pinch hitter to work the comms and navigate for him. He bought her a CSP introductory flight, which she took in N15HV with Fred Lagno, and a fire was lit. Kathy went on to earn a sport pilot license, buy a classic 1939 Luscombe, and earn an advanced ground instructor certification. She’s currently working on her private pilot rating, and dating someone else. She has a dog named Orville, keeps the Luscombe at Ridgely (where you might see her relaxing in a lawn chair outside Hanger #10, judging your touch and goes by how much they squeak), and loves to light the fire under other prospective pilots.

Hannah Lagno - Flight Instructor and Lead Mechanic, CFI, A&P, IA
Hannah has been airborne since she was six months old, when her parents first strapped her in a car seat in their 1947 Cessna 140. Her love of taildraggers continues today as she enjoys the challenge of perfecting wheel landings on Sunday trips with her father, particularly to airports with restaurants conveniently on site. After earning a double Bachelor's degree in music education and percussion and piano performance from Frostburg State University, as well as a Performer's Certificate in percussion from Penn State, she had a change of heart and decided to pursue her passion for aviation. In 2013, she earned her private license at Chesapeake Sport Pilot under the guidance of her father, and continued to study here for her sport pilot instructor's certificate. Not only was her father her flight instructor, but also her influence in her maintenance career. Hannah started getting her hands dirty in aviation maintenance in 2017. After two years of apprenticeship under Mike Ripley and Jamie Shimer, she earned her A&P and in 2022 she earned her inspector authoriation. She is now a certified Rotax technician, along with being certified in AutoGyro maintenance.

Jason Levine - CFI
Jason's passion for aviation began in 2010 after a spontaneous discovery flight in Dallas, Texas booked through a Groupon, an experience that immediately sparked his love of flying. He completed his first solo in 2016 at Carroll County Regional Airport and continued his training at Clearview Airpark, steadily building his skills and dedication to general aviation. Jason earned both his Certified Flight Instructor certificate and his commercial pilot certificate in 2022 and went on to earn his multi engine rating in 2023. He especially enjoys flying throughout the beautiful Chesapeake Bay region. During the week he works at AOPA helping create, grow, and sustain flying clubs across the country, bringing together his enthusiasm for flying and his passion for strengthening aviation communities. In his free time, Jason enjoys going on cruises, taking spontaneous road trips, and of course spending as much time in the air as he can. Jason resides in Ellicott City and has lived in Maryland his entire life.

Dave Manion - AGI, IGI
Dave Manion had always wanted to fly. He had his first flight in a Piper Cherokee 140 at the age of 10, and was hooked. While in college, he joined the Navy as an Aviation Reserve Officer Candidate (AVROC), hoping to earn his pilot’s certificate through the service. As Vietnam was coming to a close, so was the need for Naval aviators. Dave received an Honorable Discharge from the Navy in 1974, along with a nice military haircut and a pair of flight boots. Disappointed, he then went on to find a career in industry. He moved to Maryland in 1977 to work as an instructor at the Goddard Space Flight Center, teaching technicians to operate and repair spaceflight tracking and telemetry systems. He eventually obtained his Private Pilot certificate, learning to fly at Freeway (W00), and flew with the Civil Air Patrol for several years, flying out of W00 and FME. He obtained his Instrument Ground Instructor (IGI) certificate in 2003 while working towards an instrument rating. He is also now an Advanced Ground Instructor (AGI) and is also certified to commercially operate small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). He is a member of AOPA and EAA, and enjoys participating in the Boy Scouts Youth Aviation Adventure (YAA) and the EAA Young Eagles programs. When Dave is not flying, he manages government contracts for SAIC. He and his wife have two grown children, both living in Maryland. He loves to fly when he can get away from work and honey-do’s.

Vince Massimini - CFI, CFII
Vince started flying as a military pilot in 1969 and retired in 1990 as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Marine Corps, where he flew the A4 Skyhawk and other jet aircraft, including a tour as a military flight instructor and several hundred combat missions in Vietnam. He has been a civil airplane and instrument instructor since 2005 and is designated a Master Flight Instructor by the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI). Since retiring from the Marine Corps, Vince has worked with the FAA and foreign governments on GPS for civil aviation (including WAAS and Performance Based Navigation), advanced surveillance technologies, parallel instrument approaches, and airport safety. He volunteers as a docent (i.e., tour guide) at the National Air and Space Museum locations in Washington DC and near Dulles Airport, Virginia. He lives at Kentmorr Airpark (3W3) in Maryland and flies his Maule and Champ aircraft from the grass runway in the back yard (including commuting to the Museum locations). He lets his wife live at Kentmorr also (or vice-versa).

Tom McKnight, CFI, CFII
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 graduating as a Distinguished Graduate of Air Force ROTC, Tom spent twenty years in the Air Force as an aviator and aeronautical engineer, including a stint at the US Naval Academy as a mechanical engineering instructor and VTNA flight instructor. After retiring from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1994, he joined the faculty of Delaware State University as Chairman and Associate Professor in the Airway Science Department and managed the school’s FAA Part 141 flight school. Tom finished his work career at FAA Headquarters as an Aviation Safety Inspector in the General Aviation and Commercial Division. Tom holds an airline transport pilot certificate, Gold Seal CFI/CFII/MEI, Gyroplane Commercial and CFI, and is a former Sport Gyroplane Examiner. He has logged over 6500 hours in over 90 military and civilian aircraft and rotorcraft.

Mollie Miles - Flight Operations, Human Resources, & Payroll
Mollie joined the Chesapeake Sport Pilot Operations team in November 2023. She grew up in Louisiana and has lived in Charleston, SC and Houston, TX. She and her husband owned a bitcoin atm company in where she did sales and accounting. She recently moved to the Eastern Shore with her husband and daughter. Their love of history brought them to Kent Island where she is a member of the heritage society. She enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with her family. She is hoping that one day she can get past her fear of heights and jump inside of a fun, sport plane!

Mike Ripley - IA, Director of Maintenance
Mike has worked in aviation maintenance since 1982, and holds an IA and A&P license. Over the span of his career, he is proud to have mentored several young people who went on to have careers in aviation. Mike is Rotax certified, AutoGyro maintenance certified, and for many years was a certified inspector for an FAA certified repair station. He also holds a single and multi-engine land private pilot license. In his free time Mike is an avid golfer, an enthusiastic wood turner, and a world traveler.

Ed Ritchie - CFI, CFII
When Ed got his glider license in 1983, he fulfilled his life-long dream to become a pilot. Three years later he was hired by the FAA and became an air traffic controller. With over 28 years ATC experience, Ed gained extensive proficiency in three ATC disciplines as a controller and instructor, which included Flight Service Station, Air Traffic Control Tower, and Radar Approach Control. When Ed wasn’t controlling aircraft, he was learning to fly them, eventually obtaining single- and multi-engine certificates, ATP, CFI, CFII and MEI credentials. Ed has flown for two small Part 135 airlines while he lived in New England, and has been flight instructing for 20 years. Ed and his wife have been married for over 35 years, and have a grandson he can’t wait to fly with!

Marty Sacks - CFI, CFII
Marty is a second generation aviator having started flying with his Dad as a six month old. Marty got his private at a flight school based at Dulles Airport way back when. Fast forward to today he is very involved in Maryland Wing of Civil Air Patrol as a SAR pilot, instructor and evaluator and enjoys giving ground and flight instruction outside of CAP to both new and experienced pilots. He loves learning and teaching new avionics. His is married and has three children and five grandchildren. His favorite passengers are the grandkids. By day he works in broadcast technology.

Lance Tuscany - CFI-S
Lance always had an affinity for aviation but didn’t begin flying until August 2020 when his wife got him an intro flight for their anniversary. The training for his Private Pilot License, Instrument Rating, and Sport Pilot Flight Instructor Certificate were all completed at CSP. Lance is a member of the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), and as a former Eagle Scout enjoys giving back and volunteering for the Boy and Girl Scouts Youth Aviation Adventure. Outside of flying, Lance works as a FPGA design engineer focusing on airborne radar and attended the University of Michigan and Johns Hopkins University for his bachelors and masters degrees in Computer & Electrical Engineering. He lives in Annapolis with his wife (Brit) and two German Shepherd Dogs (Hertz and Hans).

Dan Wroe - CFI-S
Dan’s interest in aviation started with tales told by his dad of flight training and combat missions over Hilter’s Germany in a B-24. Far too much of his childhood allowance money was spent on plastic models, and, later, far too much paycheck went into R/C models. In 1994, he finally found his way into the pilot seat of a venerable Piper J-3 Cub, taking private pilot training at a now-closed grass field near Clarksville, MD. A few years later, he added on a seaplane rating, which he exercises every chance he gets. That early shade-tree aviation experience set the tone for much of the flying he has done since. He soon also became involved in ultralight aircraft. He is the former president and current newsletter editor for Experimental Aircraft Association chapter 571 and the central MD Challenger kitplane dealer. He has also been the test pilot for the first flight of numerous homebuilts. After a number of years providing occasional ultralight flight training, Dan got his Sport Pilot Instructor rating in 2010. When he is not instructing, or helping out in the CSP maintenance shop, you will usually still find him wrenching on a variety of homebuilt and ultralight aircraft, or flying them into places without airport identifier codes, or even runways.

Helen Woods - CFI, Owner
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 from 2009 to present and in 2015 was recognized by the FAA as Baltimore District and Eastern Region Flight Instructor of the Year. Today, as a flight instructor, owner, and manager of Chesapeake Sport Pilot, she is dedicated to sharing her love of aviation with others through affordable, quality flight training.