B747skipper From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 2106 times:
Bragado, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
9 NOV 2002 -
xxx
My son, little "junior pilot" Lautaro Podesta-Kelley, age 13, is probably the youngest pilot in the world, as he flew his father's airplane in Bragado last saturday.
xxx
Lauti (his nickname) had been flying with me, in my Piper L-21, since some 18 months ago, logging about 120 hours of instruction with me - I had applied for a waiver of minimum age requirement to solo on a "one time basis" from the Argentina CAA - which had been approved.
xxx
Lauti flew only 35 minutes solo - consisting of 1 "low pass", and 3 landings. He now has to wait for legal age to be licensed to fly as pilot. Hopefully this will appear in Guinness book of world records.
xxx
A proud "Papi" -
Gosh I cannot sleep - as if was my first solo...
(s) Skipper
777-300 FAN From Australia, joined Oct 2001, 74 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 2070 times:
WOW !!!
Pass on my congratulations to Lauit.
Thats amazing 13 years old and he flew solo, i flew solo when i was 18 and i had 13 hours of flying and i was pretty nervous so i can't imagine how Lauit felt.
Could he even see over the instrument panel???
B747skipper From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 2055 times:
Oh, he got a pillow under his butt, another one in his back...
xxx
Wind was calm, gusty 1 knot... the field is an uncontrolled cow pasture, but no cows for traffic on the runway (or in the air) -
xxx
I got him a "cleared for solo" by 3 different instructors who flew with him and said that is was ok... was not my own biased opinion... he had logged 123 hrs of dual instruction, mostly with me, but with others as well...
xxx
He probably will have 500 hours when he gets his PPL, of which 450 will be dual instruction with me, we are not shooting for "minimum hours" -
xxx
He actually has passed the written exam PPL 6 month ago (there was no minimum age to take the written) and he aced it - and since he spends his life with my 747 manuals, guess how much he knows of that aircraft.
(s) Skipper
Jetguy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 2059 times:
Skipper...
Please pass on to Lauti my sincere congratulations. It is a very great accomplishment. Is it a world's record? I don't think so - I remember reading how some people would travel to Cuba in the 40's and 50's (pre-Castro era) to solo. I believe that there were a couple of 10 year olds who actually soloed, but I don't remember for sure what they flew. It seems to me that perhaps it might have been in 2-controlled Aircoupes, but it's been a long time. However, this in no way diminishes what your son did this weekend and in a taildragger no less! You must be a proud Papi! I know I would be; but alas, none of my kids have shown any interest in aviation.
Jetguy
B747skipper From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 2044 times:
Thanks Jetguy -
If there is one thing that means more than planes to me, it is my boy and my girl... I try to give them the best of me for their future...
xxx
No need to say how proud I am of his accomplishment, much of it thanks to my contacts with the CAA here - that waiver was not easy to get, and it is a one time only deal - the restrictions were half of the page - 3 other CFIs vouched for his ability to fly safely, without endangering the population... And I did this without my wife, his mother, being aware of it...
xxx
I dont know if my son will make an aviation career, my dad was a WW2 B-17 pilot with the 8th Air Force, so the kid could be 3rd generation... I only give him the education and knowledge I have.
xxx
I dont know the documented minimum age for "junior pilots" - I heard of the Cubans escaping at age 11 flying an airplane to Florida...
xxx
Thank you again - he is on "Cloud 9" if you wish to know...
(s) Skipper
Jeff G From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 431 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 2034 times:
Congrats to you and your son, Skipper. As for him being the youngest pilot, I'm not sure you'll get too many people to believe you. After all, everyone "knows" the youngest "pilot" was nine(?) year old Jessica Dubroff. Of course, there's a big difference, but perhaps the age record and associated publicity may not be ultimately worth pursuing.
Jetguy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 2036 times:
I can just imagine how he feels. The closest thing that we in the States can currently do is solo a motorglider at 14 and get a PPL-Glider at 16. (Ultralights don't count) Some of those motorgliders can be pretty complex - constantspeed, full feathering props, retractable landing gear, full IFR panels, avionics, and cruise speeds right up there at 120 knots +.
Luzezito From Spain, joined May 2001, 268 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 2022 times:
Congratulations Skipper! I really wish I had had a family tradition of flying too but now I am stuck with flying at the back of all you pilots. Plan to get my glider license soon though!
Indian_flyboy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 2006 times:
Congratulations Skipper !! And please do congratulate your son as well . Well I could never become one , though I always dream about it every single day , so I always feel happy for everyone else who becomes a pilot . But then Lauti is 13 , needs special congratulations.
Saintsman From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2002, 2065 posts, RR: 2 Reply 15, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 1995 times:
I can't get my son to drive a car and he's 18!
These days it's rare for a son to want to spend time with his father. Its either uncool or they are too busy playing on their computer, so I think that the achievement is pretty good before you even think of the flying.
Skipper, I think that you should print out all these replies and present them to your son to show it's not just you who are proud of him.
Mr.BA From Singapore, joined Sep 2000, 3423 posts, RR: 23 Reply 16, posted (10 years 6 months 1 week 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 1963 times:
Yeah it's really an achievement! We are bound to see him follow dad's footsteps like Rick has said to fly the left hand seat very soon! Congrats to him
Dg_pilot From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 856 posts, RR: 3 Reply 17, posted (10 years 6 months 1 week 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 1919 times:
B747Skipper,
Your post reminds me of how my dad and grandpa spent time with me flying our family PA11. I never realized it at the time, but those early experiences have been etched into my memory. I'll never forget the time dad let me "line up the plane for landing." I ran inside and told mom immediately. It is hard to believe what influences those flights as a 5 year old have had on me.
B747skipper From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 21, posted (10 years 6 months 1 week 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1808 times:
My gosh 174thfwff - did not mean to infringe on our rules - was just an mere little hello in Castellano... I always try to stick to English for the benefit of all our friends here - honest, but social greetings, occasionally, I admit I do in other languages...
xxx
I agree that English is to be used since we devote ourselves to aviation, but in all my flying overseas, I never fail to say hellos or thank you in local languages - in this day and age of "animosity" between the many nations who are represented here with A.net friends... maybe with can beat the United Nations in showing our goodwill to each other...
xxx
When I see some subjects of discord among our friends about politics and religions, I always try to greet others in their languages, and with their traditions - one thing we all learn here as A.net members, is that love of aviation and airplanes goes beyond nationalities and languages...
xxx
Ahora, hablamos en ingles solamente
(s) Skipper
707cmf From France, joined Mar 2002, 4885 posts, RR: 32 Reply 23, posted (10 years 6 months 1 week 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 1763 times:
Congratulations to your son Skipper.
And, huh... Be careful, now, he might want to solo with your 747 !!!
My mother told me that one of my grand-uncles was once the youngest pilot in France (something like 14 if I recall correctly)... Heck. Why did I have to wait till 25 to fly for real ???
You're a model for all dads, Skipper. But beware. My son will solo at 12 ! (just kidding)
Antoine - no solo, no son yet, soy solo (what no Spanish here ? - means I'm alone)
Mr Spaceman From Canada, joined Mar 2001, 2780 posts, RR: 15 Reply 24, posted (10 years 6 months 1 week 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 1758 times:
"CONGRATULATIONS!!!!" to your son Skipper for his "First Solo" flight.
Please shake his hand for me.
He is now an official member of a large group of pilots who did their first solo flight before they earned their driver's licence! I'm also a member (although I was 18).
It's great to hear about his excellent achievement.
Also, pat yourself on the back for being such a great Father, role model, and Flight Instructor.
It's beautiful to know that he may go from flying one of these........
PS, can you please give us some performance stats on the Piper L-21 that he soloed in.
Chris
"Just a minute while I re-invent myself"
25 Jgore: Dear Skipper I want to write you an email. Don't know if you are willing to give me your address though. If you aren't, you can send me one at my addr
26 B747skipper: The L-21C is just a US Army Piper Super Cub, you would call it PA18-135... Its reputation fame is the fact that its takeoff distance shorter than land
27 XFSUgimpLB41x: Hablo un poquito de espanol, tamibien! Many congratulations to Lauti, Skipper! Soloing in a taildragger.. the sign of a real pilot! (me... I'm not a r
28 174thfwff: Senor Skipper, I was only jokin around, no need to be sorry. Tengo mucho terea, y necesito mirar "24" en DVD. Es muy bueno. Adios, Nacho
29 Matt777: CONGRATULATIONS to your son Skipper for his first solo flight. So now we have new pilots in this country, that's just great men! Please shake his hand
30 B747skipper: Well the big problem, he wants to be a soccer star player for River... Then when he will be a millionaire, he will have his own airplane... Hope you g
31 Sllevin: Skipper: Congrats! So when do we get him typed in the 747? Steve
32 Cx flyboy: Congratulations! I still remember my first solo. I was so happy I was singing most of the way!! Next step, 747s huh Skipper?
33 BR715-A1-30: Gee Skipper, I wish you were my Papi. I would be in heaven. Its not everyday a father has a son who is interested in Aviation.
34 SouthernCRJ: Congratulations Skipper, and pass on my congratulations to Lautaro as well... the only problem is that I am "bostero de nacimiento, y orgulloso de ser
35 Bravo45: Didn't I told ya once that he is one hell of a lucky young man. And wow at his being the third generation. Special congrats to the Lautaro.
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