Are you ready to fly?
Meet Our Team
Among the top reasons our students decide to go with us is our professional staff, who are involved in their educational process every step of the way. Get to know more about each of our team members below.
Wayne Steve Thompson Jr.
Lake Charles (KLCH) – Owner
Steve is an Army veteran and a retired State Trooper. He is a full time professor at McNeese State University. He is a member of the Parapoke skydiving demonstration team and a skydiving instructor. He can fly a plane or jump out if it. He is a member of the sheriff’s office aviation unit. Steve has a passion for helping others discover the sky.
Viktoriia Thompson
Lake Charles – General Manager and Co-owner
Joseph Alpeter
Lake Charles (KLCH) – Flight Instructor
Graduated LSU with a Bachelor’s of Science in May 2021 and plans to obtain his master’s degree in Aviation Management. He attended ATP flight school where he obtained his Private, Instrument, Commercial, Instructor, Instrument Instructor, and Multi Engine Instructor License. He is a 3rd generation pilot and is passionate about aviation, teaching others how to fly, and getting them to reach their goal. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with his family and dogs and watching football.
Slate Fuller
Lake Charles (KLCH) – Flight Instructor
Slate is a Lake Charles native. He graduated from Barbe High School in 2017, and Mcneese State University in 2023. Following his graduation from MSU, he attended ATP Flight School and obtained his PPL, Instrument Rating, CPL, CFI, MEI, and CFII.
He has played sports his entire life which has taught him that hard work and persistence are the winning recipe for achieving your goals. He brings an enjoyable approach to instructing while providing a quality learning experience!
John Davidson
Lake Charles (KLCH) and Deridder (KDRI) – Flight Instructor
John is a 22-year-old flight instructor from Lake Charles. He is passionate about flying and even more so about teaching. He’s a proud graduate of Louisiana Tech’s Professional Aviation Program and with over 800 hours of flight time, John is qualified to teach private, instrument, and commercial courses. John not only teaches about crucial flying skills, but he also enjoys mentoring aviation students and guiding them toward achieving their dreams in the sky.
Alan Abduzhalilov
New Orleans (KNEW) – CFI Instructor and Manager of New Orleans Lakefront Airport
Matthew Boudreaux
New Orleans (KNEW) – Flight Instructor
Matthew is a 25-year-old Phenom pilot and CFI from Covington, LA with a passion for aviation. He currently holds his CFI, CFII, and MEI instructor certificates. When he is not flying, he enjoys hunting and fishing.
Luke Schmidt
Deridder (KDRI) – Flight Instructor
Luke is a CFI out of Beauregard Regional Airport. In tandem with instructing Luke is also a certified A&P mechanic.
Joshua Ford
Beaumont (KBPT) – Flight Instructor
Josh is a first-generation pilot born and raised in Houston, Texas. with aspirations to join the commercial airlines. He graduated from ATP in 2023 with his CFI/CFII/MEI ratings and is a first-class aviation expert with the knowledge of flying a diverse array of aircraft. When he is not flying, Josh is a workout enthusiast and a licensed skydiver.
Lane Cherry
Beaumont (KBPT) – Beaumont Manager
Lane is 33 years old and was born and raised in Buna, Texas. Lane is responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the Beaumont branch. Lane began his training with Rock Solid Aviation and is currently working on receiving his CFI certificate. When he is not flying airplanes Lane spends his time hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family.
Jason Anderson
Future CFI
Jason attended an airshow at Chennault while in high school and fell in love with aviation.He went on to have a career in education as a teacher, coach, and principal. Jason recently retired with 32 years in education. The last 24 years in Beauregard Parish. A former student and player of his earned his pilot ratings and is now a regional airline pilot. This achievement showed Jason that he could do it as well. As a result of his success, Jason is now pursuing his childhood dream with Rock Solid Aviation’s sponsorship program.
* In his spare time, Jason referees high school basketball (20 years), plays golf, and loves the beach.
Dongsung Kang
Flight Instructor
Isiah Edwards
Flight Instructor
Isiah Edwards is a first generation pilot of his family born in Houston, Texas. Inspired by his future father-in-law, he pursued aviation by flying gliders. Isiah earned his CFI, CFII, MEI certificates, and became an ATP graduate of 2024.
Micah Richard
DeRidder Manager and Future CFI
Born and raised in DeRidder, Louisiana, Micah has a deep connection to the community and an unwavering passion for aviation. With over 12 years of experience at the DeRidder Fire Department, 4 of those as the Training and Safety Officer, he has cultivated a strong foundation in leadership, safety, and instructional excellence. Throughout his career, he has developed a reputation for his dedication to teaching, mentoring, and helping others reach their professional goals.
Micah’s love for aviation, combined with years of experience in training and safety, has led them to take on the role of managing a flight school. Driven by a commitment to quality education and a passion for fostering the next generation of aviators, he strives to provide a safe and enriching learning environment for all students. His expertise in safety protocols and training systems ensures that each student receives a well-rounded, comprehensive education tailored to their individual needs.
As a lifelong resident of DeRidder, he is committed to supporting the local community and helping students achieve their dreams of flight while instilling a strong sense of responsibility and professionalism in every aspect of their training.
Get In Touch
500 Airport Blvd, Lake Charles, LA
Flights/Lessons out of Lake Charles, DeRidder, New Orleans, and Beaumont.