14 yr old pilot

Does Microsoft FlightSim come readily to mind? I've flown behind it enough
to convince myself that damn near anybody with the motor skills necessary
can learn enough on FlightSIm to take the sucker off and land it correctly.

Unfortunately on his second landing, he hadn't done enough of the
simulation.

Jim



aw, come on. How does a 14 year old without any flying experience manage
to start an airplane, much less know how to control the throttle?

Good guess, but according to authorities who interviewed the boy, he
has no access to computers or video games. He just hied himself to the
library & read & read & read about small planes & flight manuals.

On 17 Jun 2005 20:30:43 -0700, "Belle" wrote in
.com::

Good guess, but according to authorities who interviewed the boy, he
has no access to computers or video games. He just hied himself to the
library & read & read & read about small planes & flight manuals.

It sounds like someone got a chance to talk with him.

On 2005-06-18 05:30, Belle wrote:
Good guess, but according to authorities who interviewed the boy, he
has no access to computers or video games. He just hied himself to the
library & read & read & read about small planes & flight manuals.


If that's true, then I'm impressed.

Any young kid today actually *reading*, and understanding enough about
flight to actually try it out, with partial success (in the context of
'any landing you walk away from is a good landing'), must have a strong
drive to become pilot.

But where were the 'Young Eagles' or glider clubs in his hometown?
There must be ways to put such a kid in contact with airsports legally,
either at the library or at the airport, IMO.

/Rolf

Article published Jun 16, 2005
Alabama boy accused of taking stolen airplane on joy ride
[...]
Police said the boy, who wasn't identified because of his age, had no
flying experience.

IIRC, FAA regulations require _legal_ pilots to have their names
published on their website, is that correct?

He allegedly took his mother's van from their home
in Rainsville and drove to the airport in Fort Payne, about five miles
away.

Is driving a car permitted for a 14-yr-boy in Alabama?

Greetings,
Bernd

aw, come on. How does a 14 year old without any flying experience manage
to start an airplane, much less know how to control the throttle?

What's "flying experience"? Actually serving as pilot or co-pilot
of a plane? If the kid has flown with someone in a small plane and
was observant, even if he never touched the controls before, he
might manage to learn enough to get himself in trouble. Or he
might have been interested enough to read books about flying.

Gordon L. Burditt