Young pilot earns wings
Murtoa College year-nine student Roland Brooke has set his sights on a career in aviation after earning his solo ‘wings’.
The teenager, still too young to drive a car, celebrated his 15th birthday earlier this month by flying solo for the first time and getting his solo-pilot licence.
The milestone means he can now fly an aircraft by himself and with passengers within a 25-nautical-mile radius of Horsham.
He will now work on chalking up 10 hours of flying required to secure a cross-country licence endorsement. This would allow him to fly anywhere in Australia.
The Horsham Flying Club member said he had flown with his father Doug since he was a toddler and first had a feel of aircraft controls when he was about seven.
Doug, also a pilot, said flying had always been part of Roland’s life.
“His first flight was when he was 18 months old,” he said.
Roland said he hoped to pursue a career that involved him being at the controls of an aircraft.
“I love it. My dream job would be in the air ambulance. I would have to do a lot of work to get there, but I want to try to do that. That’s what I want to do,” he said.
Having yet to learn how to drive a car, Roland has had to travel out with others or cycle his way out to Horsham aerodrome to pursue his flying passion.
He has gained his qualifications under the direction of Horsham Flying Club chief flying instructor Peter Weissenfeld.