CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF!
HE’S NOT ALLOWED TO DRIVE YET BUT 16-YEAR-OLD BEN HAS HIGHER AMBITIONS AS HE MAKES HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT
It’s just like a driving test. Once you can show that you can do it on your own, you can go up on your own. Mum Kim
HE isn’t old enough to drive but the sky’s the limit for a Coventry teen who has flown a plane all by himself.
At just 16 years old, Ben Tweed celebrated his birthday by taking to the skies, making his very first solo flight.
Only just old enough to buy himself a lottery ticket, Ben soared above Coventry Airport while his proud mum Kim watched on below.
Ben remarkably first began flying lessons with Almat Aviation, based at Coventry Airport, aged just 14.
But until now he has always had the safety blanket of a supervisor by his side.
Budding pilots are allowed to start logging their training hours from the age of 14 at the Baginton site if the instructors deem them mature enough.
But to fly solo, you must strictly be 16 years of age.
And so, on the day of Ben’s birthday no less, he and his family arrived at the airfield with lofty ambitions in mind.
Kim told the Telegraph: “I’m very proud, it’s a really good achievement. “He’s been interested in aviation for a few years, I think his interests changed from steam trains when he was about seven. “We used to go to airshows, and saw the Vulcan bomber when it came to Coventry.” ‘It’s just like a driving test’ Kim added: “The weather had been awful in the days leading up to his birthday, but the weather was lovely on the day.
“Ben went up with his instructor first, it’s just like taking a driving test.
“Once you can show that you can do it on your own, you can go up on your own.
“He’s currently doing his GCSE’s, and building up his flying hours.
“Once he gets 45 hours of flying he can potentially teach others, and eventually get in to a pilot training school.
“I’m hoping that he will be able to get in with a combination of academics, knowledge and flight experience.
“Ultimately, he wants to be a commercial pilot for British Airways , and he is very focused.”