High-flier Sally to be pilot at 17
Not Sally Cluley. She reached for the skies – and will next week become one of the youngest pilots in Britain. At the stroke of midnight on September 28, the air cadet from Birstall will realise a lifelong dream when she is legally allowed to use the private pilot's licence she passed last month.
Sally, who also hopes to take driving lessons soon, said: "The fact that I have got my licence still has not really sunk in. I can't believe it, to be honest."
Sally's dream was made possible when her grandmother left her money in her will, which she used for flying lessons. S he said: "Ever since I got my first flying experience as an air cadet, I have wanted to learn to fly solo. I decided to use the money that my grandmother left me to help fulfil my dream.
"Ultimately, my goal is to become a commercial pilot, but I haven't yet ruled out going to university to study as an engineer.
"It would also be good to join a flying club closer to home – that way I can log the 100 flying hours required before I can attempt the next level of qualification."
Sally will have no shortage of company, with friends and family queuing up for a chance to go up, up and away.
To get her licence, Sally had to complete 45 flying hours and study for seven ground school examinations covering everything from radio communications to air law.
Her final two-hour flight and written test were conducted under the watchful eye of experienced examiner Tim Darby at the recently opened POM Flying School at Humberside Airport, in North Lincolnshire.
He said: "Sally was extremely confident in her ability. She handled the plane very well and produced an extremely competent test during her final two-hour flight."
Chief flying instructor Dave Gibson said Sally was one of the best young pilots he had seen.
He said: "She takes it all in her stride. You can show her something and she absorbs it very quickly."
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