The Upside of FS...

[Wing Nut]

Young pilots aim to inspire

The record-setting boys will talk to area youth at Smith Field event.

By Ryan Lengerich

rlengerich@news-sentinel.com


Kenny Roy found his passion for flying through a Microsoft flight simulator program at age 12.

At 14, the Long Beach, Calif., boy became the youngest black pilot ever to earn his solo license when he steered a Cessna 152 through the Canadian skies for 30 minutes.

Now, one year since that September 2004 flight, Roy will visit Smith Field Airport and talk to area youths about achieving their dreams.

He will be joined by 12-year-old Jimmy Haywood, who last year became the youngest black pilot to make an international flight, when he flew to Vancouver, British Columbia, from Compton, Calif.

Friends of Bethany, a Fort Wayne-based inner-city youth ministry, organized Saturday

[TacitBlue]

I read something about those kids in Sport Aviation not to long ago. It's always good to see young people interested in aviation.

[Tweek]

Anyone know the minimum age to fly in the UK? I could be up in the skys right now!

[|| Andy ||]

Anyone know the minimum age to fly in the UK? I could be up in the skys right now!

Solo is 16

I first flew at 14 with the Air Training Corps, like many on the forums i gather..

[ozzy72]

Solo is 16 for gliders, 18 for powered.
Emi is already well versed on British WWII aircraft, she goes mental with excitement whenever she sees a Spit or Lanc... in fact she has been this way since about 4 months! She also knows what the joystick is for, but we're still having some hand-eye co-ordination issues

[Citationpilot]

I broke 100 hours at 13, soloed at 14, and got my license on my 17th bday after 510 hours; too bad I'm white or maybe they'd do an article on me I've always enjoyed hearing stories like this and hope that these two guys have the best career possible. They're defiently the exception when it comes to kids their age and have a great headstart on flying when compared to other pilots.

[C]

Anyone know the minimum age to fly in the UK? I could be up in the skys right now!

There's not set minimum age to start flying, in fact as soon as someone is big enough to safely operate all the controls you can start learning.

Solo as Andy says though is at 16 in the UK (not too sure about whoever had that idea - it was 17 in my day!) and you can hold a license at 17 years old.

Personally I first flew (at the controls) as an Air Cadet in a Chipmunk at 14 (10 years ago in December... ), and soloed on my 18th birthday on one of the old RAF flying scholarships... I'm also technically one of the few Air Cadets to have flown in the DHC Chipmunk, SA Bulldog and the Grob Tutor (Plastic pig...)

[ozzy72]

I'm so old I went solo in a Chippie, no Grobs or Bulldogs in my day! I still have a soft spot for those lovely little things De Havilland makers of the finest trainers ever, the Chippie and the Moth

[C]

I'm so old I went solo in a Chippie

Cessna 152 for me, followed by the second first solo (Tutor - only a year and a half after the previous), and most recently the third after 2 years off flying!

[beefhole]

David Letterman did an interview with Kenny while he was in-flight doing aerobatic stuff, it was pretty good.

What's funny is that I've soloed (C172SP), but I've never once been behind the wheel of a car (I'm 8 months overdue to get my permit)

Another wierd thing is that, at least in PA, you can fly a plane by yourself before you can drive a car by yourself.

[Rocket_Bird]

I know a guy who was in my ground school class back in april, who just got his licence a couple weeks before I did, he still doesnt know how to drive I believe.  I remember that during his first solo, his instructor was like "Uhmm.. do you even know how to drive?!?"  He was like "Uhh no"

I believe here that you can start learning to fly at 14, but you cant get your licence until 17.  I believe you can still solo though, im not sure.  I know you cant start driving on your own here until your 16 minimum (that which you get your licence).  But meh, Ive been driving longer then ive flown, and I think my driving is a lot worst then my piloting!

And man, you lucky guys got to fly dehavillands... I wanna fly a dehavilland!  

[Tweek]

I'm gonna have to get flying!

[looie]

Solo is 16

I first flew at 14 with the Air Training Corps, like many on the forums i gather..

im thinking of joining ATC what's it like