Boy, 14, 'youngest person' in UK to fly glider solo

[mhm]

 14-year-old said to be the youngest person in the UK to fly a glider solo has spoken about his achievement.

Callum Lavender, from Chinnor, Oxfordshire, made the flight last month at Bicester Flying Club, two days after his birthday.

He said: "It was phenomenal. You can't beat the feeling of being in an aircraft by yourself. So much fun."

The minimum age of solo glider pilots in the UK was lowered from 16 to 14 in October, the same as Europe.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-20915906

Seems pointless reducing the age limit.

[viking9]

Good for him. I had a few students who were ready for first solo at 14 but had to wait until they were 16.

Nice to see gliding at Bicester still going strong. Although I never instructed there, I landed there many times when the great Andy Gough was CFI and Manager there.

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1982/1982%20-%201757.html