A Knighton teenager who has been on cloud nine since gaining his flying licence in July, has taken his first passenger, his grandad, on a flight.
George Thomas passed his flying test on April 17 this year but it wasn’t until his 17th birthday in July that he could apply for his pilot’s licence.
His licence arrived recently and last week, George, an A-level student at John Beddoes High School, took his grandad Philip Price from Knighton on a flight over Presteigne and Leominster in a two-seater Cessna 152 aeroplane.
Mr Price said: “I wasn’t worried at all, he knew exactly what he was doing and is very confident.”
George said: “The flight went very well. I was hoping to take him over Knighton but I got to Presteigne and the cloud cover was too low.
“I chose to take my grandad because he taught me to drive so I thought I would take him up in a plane.”
George has been flying high since he had a taster session at Shobdon Airport in 2004. “They were offering discounted taster flights so I thought I would have a go and I loved it.”
He started learning to fly in December 2006 and then on his 16th birthday on July 19, 2007, he made his first solo flight after just 20 hours’ flying with his instructor James Peplow.
His instructor Mr Peplow said: “It is very rare for anyone to go solo after just 20 hours. George showed all the aptitude for flying and I’m sure he will have a good career as a pilot. He was a very good student who was also very interested in the engineering side of the aircraft. I wish him good luck in his flying career.”
George, who has done all his training at Shobdon Airport, is studying for A-levels in Maths, Physics and Geography and hopes to get into Buckinghamshire University next year to study Air Transport Operations with Pilot Training.
• If you are interested in flying, the airport is still offering taster sessions. For details telephone (01568) 708369.
