A TEENAGER reached for the sky when he flew a plane solo for the first time. Jean Smith, of Harvest Lane, Stevenage, took the controls of a four-seater plane just three weeks after his 16th birthday – the youngest age you can fly without an instructor. He
A TEENAGER reached for the sky when he flew a plane solo for the first time.
Jean Smith, of Harvest Lane, Stevenage, took the controls of a four-seater plane just three weeks after his 16th birthday - the youngest age you can fly without an instructor.
He said: "It was great but it wasn't until afterwards that I realised 'wow', I just did that on my own."
He added: "My dad used to be in the air force and so I have always been interested in flying.
"I just love it. It's a great feeling to be up there. You can see everything from a different point of view and it's quite amazing."
Jean only began flying four months ago and has had a total of around 15 hours of flying lessons.
His father, John, regularly accompanies him to Panshanger airfield - where Jean takes regular lessons and also took to the skies alone.
John said: "It was a very scary experience for me standing on the ground.
He added: "I was in the air force and I think that's where the bug has bitten him."
Jean's ambition is to ultimately train as a commercial pilot.
He said: "It's pretty much an idea I have had in my head since I was little. It's my dream, my life goal and I'm getting lots of support from my family.
John said: "Its expensive training but it's his dream and he's my son so we are definitely supporting him all the way.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here