Air cadet to become Britain's youngest pilot.

[machineman9]

I did steal this article off the Air Cadet website... but only because I have a few issues with the article itself.

The Person In This Article is supposed to become Britain's youngest pilot because she is passing her exam on her birthday, or some such.

Are you seriously telling me that this has never been done before? My friend and myself aswell are planning to pass our PPLs on near enough our 17th birthdays.


Full applause for managing to get that standard... but it really hasn't been done before?


Any thoughts?


Cheers

[C]

Are you seriously telling me that this has never been done before? My friend and myself aswell are planning to pass our PPLs on near enough our 17th birthdays.


Full applause for managing to get that standard... but it really hasn't been done before?

It has. It was probably done for the first time the very day you were allowed a licence at 17, after the rule changes a few years ago. It's no different to all the 18year olds who did it before.

[machineman9]

So what is the hidden reason behind it being such an achievement?

[C]

So what is the hidden reason behind it being such an achievement?

Probably a media-aware and proactive sqn and wing staff. It is an achievement, but not really a unique one of note.

[expat]

So what is the hidden reason behind it being such an achievement?

Propaganda.

Matt

[garryrussell]

They are not saying the youngest ever just the youngest

She will be the youngest but only in the way that when a baby is born it is the youngest person in Britiain......for a second or two until the next one comes along.........the article does not make any claims to it being unique

Youngsters flying and getting there license on their 17th birthday has been happening every now and then for many years.

But it does not happen that often and so it is newsworthy for that particular group and maybe a first for them.

The article is quite correct as it

[Anark]

Our local "rival" squadron is one of those squadrons that think of everything as a major acheivement.
For example, when somebody goes flying for the first time of if they pass their first class then it'll be in the paper.

[machineman9]

Our local "rival" squadron is one of those squadrons that think of everything as a major acheivement.
For example, when somebody goes flying for the first time of if they pass their first class then it'll be in the paper.

We had something like that recently.

I can't remember the full story, but someone from the rival squadron went to RAF Kinloss (same camp as me, just a different week of it) and flew the Nimrod for a little bit- they had their solo gliding badge, making them an amazing pilot of course. Anyway, in the news paper the headline was something like "Cadet becomes fighter pilot on camp" or something ridiculous like that. Even after triple checking to make sure I wasn't incorrect... the Nimrod is not a fighter aircraft, so how could they be a fighter pilot?

[EGNX]

Hahaha!... I'm suprised to see Sally on here!... She's a G2 pilot at 643 VGS with me, she lives just down the road from me and we share lifts!... Small world! She past her PPL about 3-4 weeks ago and she turned 17 yesterday, the day she can legally have the licence! Haha!

[expat]

Our local "rival" squadron is one of those squadrons that think of everything as a major acheivement.
For example, when somebody goes flying for the first time of if they pass their first class then it'll be in the paper.

"Cadet becomes fighter pilot on camp" or something ridiculous like that. Even after triple checking to make sure I wasn't incorrect... the Nimrod is not a fighter aircraft, so how could they be a fighter pilot?

[machineman9]

Hahaha!... I'm suprised to see Sally on here!... She's a G2 pilot at 643 VGS with me, she lives just down the road from me and we share lifts!... Small world! She past her PPL about 3-4 weeks ago and she turned 17 yesterday, the day she can legally have the licence! Haha!

Well full credit to her, it is something that does take a lot of commitment and skill, but I just couldn't see how or why she was the youngest...


expat, yeh, but it's primary (or atleast current) role is patrol and rescue aid isn't it? Probably some bombing too, but I couldn't personally class it as a fighter aircraft.

[Hagar]

Hahaha!... I'm suprised to see Sally on here!... She's a G2 pilot at 643 VGS with me, she lives just down the road from me and we share lifts!... Small world! She past her PPL about 3-4 weeks ago and she turned 17 yesterday, the day she can legally have the licence! Haha!

Well full credit to her, it is something that does take a lot of commitment and skill, but I just couldn't see how or why she was the youngest...

As Garry explained she would have been the youngest yesterday on her 17th birthday. It's possible but highly unlikely that another 17 year-old would receive their PPL on the same day.

[AMDDDA]

Whoopie freaking doo, I have my SPL and I'm 13.

[EGNX]

She's going to be the youngest only until someone else does the same thing. Because she passed her PPL before she could actually legally have it that means on her birthday she will be in effect the youngest pilot in Britain. It will only last until somebody else does the same as her. The publicity is mainly because she is a girl and it's more uncommon for a girl her age to be doing flying, plus she is an air cadet and publicity gets drummed up quite a lot through that. Still, a fantastic achievement for her. I might show her this thread!  ;D