Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Youngest solo pilot to fly five different aircrafts-Evan
Graham sets world record
PASO ROBLES, Calif., USA -- Evan Graham
celebrated his 16th birthday (on August 6) by soloing five
different aircrafts: a vintage WWII L-4 Piper Cub taildrager,
a R-22 Robinson helicopter, a Cessna 150 Aerobat, a Robinson
44 Raven II and a 1965 Cessna 150-150 , setting the world record for the Youngest
solo pilot to fly five different aircrafts
.
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photo
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Of his flight in the piper cub, Evan commented
“The L-4 was my favorite, with my instructor out, the upgraded
85 horsepower engine, and myself weighing only 125 pounds,
the little cub felt like it had turned into a full grown grizzly
bear.
Contesting with family members in the
cockpit has always been a prerogative of flight for Evan.
Evan’s father an airplane pilot and high time professional
helicopter pilot.
Lucila Arango, Evan’s mother also did her solo
flight at age 16 and is a commercial, instrument rated pilot
is both airplanes and helicopters.
Evan’s older brother, last summer did his
solo the R-44 helicopter, also at the age of 16. As if having
an older brother flying, a pilot mother and father was not
enough, Evan is a third generation pilot and has been mentored
in aviation, aerobatic, and vintage aircrafts by his maternal
uncle.
“Evan has been flying since he was
in the womb. He has been waiting a long time for his 16th
birthday to comply with the FAA regulations for solo.”
By the time of his world record flight
came around, Evan had logged more than 150 hours of flight
time. Most of the flight time had been on booster seats and
not being able to see out of the cockpit.
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photo
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When finally the day came when there were
no instructors of parents in the cockpit Evan said of the
experience “I expected it to be exciting. What I was not expecting
were the overwhelming feelings of freedom and solitude that
come only from soaring the skies alone.”
Each aircraft had a particular significance
for Evan.
The L-4 is a Warbird, which was used as reconnaissance
aircraft in Northern Africa in 1941.
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photo
)
The Robinson 22 is his father’s helicopter,
the Cessna 150 aerobat was the same airplane his mother and
father soloed in, the Robinson 44 is the helicopter his brother
soloed, the 1965 Cessna is the airplane both of his maternal
uncles did their solo in.
Evan was aware of the family history he was making
that day but was only told about the world record after he
had done all his solos.
( enlarge
photo
)
Errick
Smith
also soloed, on his 16th birthday one airplane
and two helicopters. Evan added the taildragger component
to the record, with the flight in the L-4 Cub. Taildraggers
require a special sign off even for licensed pilots.
On a grass runway, with three flight instructors
present and three sign off, Evan logged 2 hours of solo time
in 5 different aircrafts, ending the morning before noon with
the traditional bucket drench, which his older brother was
happy to provide, the cutting of the T-shirt and a very grateful
mom to now be able to say “Evan go fuel up the plane…”
Related world records
:
Youngest
String Orchestra to Play at Carnegie Hall-world record set
by South Pasadena Children's Orchestra
Youngest
Billiard Player-world record set by Keith O'Dell Jr
Youngest
male radio presenter-world record set by Jack Hill
Youngest
college lecturer-world record set by Aman Rehman
Youngest
passenger on wheightless flight-world record set by Jules
Nader
Youngest
Successful Singer-world record set by Cleopatra Stratan
Youngest
to solo airplane and helicopters on same day-world record
set by Errick Smith
Youngest
human DJ world record set by Jack Hill
Youngest
Person Performing Carnatic Music on the Violin - World Record
set by Sandeep N Bharadwaj
Youngest
college professor-world record set by Alia Sabur
Tuesday,
August 11, 2009