John Eacott
30th Jun 2006, 11:28
The Canadians seem to have wonderful faith in the young :ok: :
(British Columbia, Canada-NBC) June 29, 2006 -
One 14-year-old by is literally flying high. The teen is setting world records for flying solo in a different aircraft on the same day.
Like all good pilots, Jonathan Strickland does what they call a walk around, checking the aircraft, making sure everything looks right. Unlike any other pilot, he is just 14-years-old.
Flight instructor Robin Petgrave worries, "I feel like the kid's little mom, you know, I'm like a nervous hen."
The instructor has brought his prize student from Los Angeles to Canada, where students can go solo as young as 14. In the States they have to wait until they're 16.
He has had four perfect takeoffs and landings, but that doesn't make him the youngest pilot to have ever soloed. That record was set a couple of years ago of years ago, also by the same flight school in Canada.
When asked about the solo flying, Jonathan says, "I looked to the right on takeoff and I didn't see anyone. I feel like cool!"
It didn't scare him; he talks about a different reaction, "I was like 'sweet!'"
Jonathan is one of hundreds of inner city kids in Los Angeles who are given the opportunity to do charity work in exchange for free flight instructions.
Thursday, he became the first 14-year-old to have flown his first solo in a plane and a chopper on the same day.
Full story WIS10TV (http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5097573)
(British Columbia, Canada-NBC) June 29, 2006 -
One 14-year-old by is literally flying high. The teen is setting world records for flying solo in a different aircraft on the same day.
Like all good pilots, Jonathan Strickland does what they call a walk around, checking the aircraft, making sure everything looks right. Unlike any other pilot, he is just 14-years-old.
Flight instructor Robin Petgrave worries, "I feel like the kid's little mom, you know, I'm like a nervous hen."
The instructor has brought his prize student from Los Angeles to Canada, where students can go solo as young as 14. In the States they have to wait until they're 16.
He has had four perfect takeoffs and landings, but that doesn't make him the youngest pilot to have ever soloed. That record was set a couple of years ago of years ago, also by the same flight school in Canada.
When asked about the solo flying, Jonathan says, "I looked to the right on takeoff and I didn't see anyone. I feel like cool!"
It didn't scare him; he talks about a different reaction, "I was like 'sweet!'"
Jonathan is one of hundreds of inner city kids in Los Angeles who are given the opportunity to do charity work in exchange for free flight instructions.
Thursday, he became the first 14-year-old to have flown his first solo in a plane and a chopper on the same day.
Full story WIS10TV (http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5097573)