Rika is a second generation pilot who solo'd at Westfield-Barnes Airport at the age of 16. She returned to flying in 2016. She earned her Flight Instructor rating in August 2019 and her Instrument Flight Instructor rating in February 2020. She created Fly Lugu Flight Training to serve an unmet need in the community. Serving on the Advisory Council of Westfield Technical Academy she recognized an opportunity to "bridge the gap" and champion STEM education in our local community. Rika is an active member of the Ninety-Nines, International Organization of Women Pilots, Women in Aviation International as well as Western Mass Wright Flight and Kiwanis Club of Westfield. Her goal is to engage the greater Westfield community with the wonderful world of aviation and help new aviators achieve their goal of being skybound.
Joe is Rika’s life and business partner who is continuing her legacy with Fly Lugu. Joe is currently earning his Private Pilot’s license and has been a part of the Fly Lugu dream since its inception in 2019. Although not an instructor, Joe brings a wealth of knowledge to the business from his years of experience in various leadership roles in government and consumer industries. Joe is also continuing Rika’s work with the Westfield Technical Academy, New England Air Museum, Ninety-Nines, International Organization of Women Pilots, Women in Aviation International as well as Western Mass Wright Flight and Kiwanis Club of Westfield. Growing the dream is another genuine aspect of Joe’s mission to honor Rika, partnering with new businesses and organizations to greater serve the local aviation and Western Mass communities.
The Sky Isn't the limit!
Brittany joins the Fly LUGU / Aero Design team as our Business Manager. She has years of experience in bookkeeping, human resources and organizational leadership. When she isn’t at the office she enjoys honing her flying skills, traveling, working out and attending to her mini-goats.
As a teenager, Mike worked for Al Tobiasz at the Palmer Airport in the 1970s as a line-boy. He joined the Army and served as a helicopter Crew Chief and later as an Aeroscout Observer. He left aviation in the early 1990s to pursue other career interests. In 2021, Rika hired his son Mitchell as a CFI at Fly LUGU and Mike returned to aviation. He received his Private Pilot's License at Fly LUGU, bought a Cessna 172 and currently works at our flight school as a dispatcher.
Shannon’s interest in aviation started when she participated in the Wright Flight program offered at Westfield High School. From that point on her love for aviation grew and she became a part of the Fly Lugu family in 2022 as a student pilot. Shannon is currently working towards her Private Pilot License with future goals of becoming an airline pilot. In her free time, Shannon plays trumpet in the community band, enjoys art and reading.
Ken began his flying career right here at KBAF off of RWY 20 on the 4th of July 1986. Ken went on to fly the F-16 MultiRole Fighter for the VTANG / 134FS. Ken also served as Dassault’s Chief Technical Pilot from 1996 - 2011 conducting Test / Production Test / Demonstration and Certification Flights on a World Wide Basis. Ken Started the Air1 Flight School in 2015 and he specializes in Tailwheel Flight Training and is looking forward to helping Fly Lugu Grow!!!
Ken started flying gliders in 1972 while going to high school. He finished his Private Pilot’s license in 1975. Over the next 25 years he earned all advanced and instructor ratings. He flew professionally worldwide until he retired in 2015 after a long tenure as Flight Facility Inspection Pilot. Ken has flown everything from a Cessna 150 through A Falcon 2000EX. He has a over 11,000 hours of which 6,000 has been in an instructor capacity. Ken looks forward to sharing his experience with you!
Sammie began training with Fly LUGU in 2019 and has since earned her Private, Seaplane, Instrument, Commercial, and CFI ratings. She is excited to finally be an instructor and looks forward to helping YOU achieve your aviation goals!
Michael grew up in Connecticut and currently lives in Suffield. He began flight training in 2020 at Fly Lugu earning his Private, Instrument, Commercial, and eventually his CFI rating in 2022. When he isn’t flying he enjoys spending time with his family, volunteering in the community, and the outdoors. Michael is excited to teach and pass on his love of flying.
Chris began flight training at in 2016 at the age of 19, earning his private pilot’s license and his instrument rating. Chris enrolled in Vermont Technical College’s Professional Pilot Technology Program in 2018 where he earned his commercial pilots license and CFI. Chris is also a full time Crew Chief in the Massachusetts Air National Guard where he maintains the F15C Eagle. Chris looks forward to flying with you.
Alex earned his pilot’s license in 1997 during high-school. He joined the Marine Corps and began training to become a Naval Aviator upon finishing college in 2003. Over a 24-year career, he flew over 3200 hours in the F/A-18 “Hornet”, King Air 200, and Gulfstream 550 all over the world. He is currently a professional pilot based in NJ flying Bombardier Global 6500 & 7500 for a private company. He has a passion for sharing his love of aviation and can’t wait to help you reach your goals!
Bob Cipolli is a 3500 hour CFI-I Commercial SEL/MEL pilot who is an Unlimited Aerobatic Competitor and retired airshow pilot. He currently owns a Staudacher S300 aerobatic aircraft and an Aviat Husky A1B. He has given 1000 hours of aerobatic, unusual attitude, and spin flight instruction and has 35 years flying experience in a number of aerobatic and tailwheel airplanes including Pitts, Extra, Sukhoi, Yak, Decathlon, Citabria, Skybolt, Eagle and Hyperbipe. He also spent a year flying the Word War II era, B-25 Mitchell Bomber Killer Bee.”
Aleks began flying in 2017 and made his first solo flight at Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport. After spending four years in Philadelphia studying finance, he returned to Western Massachusetts and completed his instrument rating, commercial pilot certificate, and certified flight instructor certificate with Fly Lugu. Outside of flying Aleks enjoys traveling, cooking, and skiing. He looks forward to flying with you and helping you along your aviation journey.
Chris has been flying since he was fourteen years old. While honing his piloting skills, he pursued a degree in engineering and worked on jet engines for six years. Now a first officer at Breeze Airways, Chris continues to share his knowledge with his students. Chris' affinity for airplanes doesn't stop there! You can find him working on or flying his 1947 Cessna 140 in his free time.
Justin began flying with his dad at the age of 6 and has always wanted to be a pilot since then. He started his flight training at Fly Lugu in 2022 and has earned his private, instrument, and commercial endorsements and finally his CFI. Justin can't wait to help you achieve all of your flying goals!
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