COMPTON BULLETIN: 14-Year-Old Jonathan Strickland Sets Three World Aviation Records

14-Year-Old Jonathan Strickland Sets Three World Aviation Records
Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum student pilot solos on both helicopter and fixed-wing plane on same day

By Cheryl Scott
Bulletin Staff Writer

Jonathan Strickland has not had much use for a passport until this week. He used it for the first time on a trip to Canada, where he went to take his solo flights in a helicopter and a fixed-wing plane.

As soon as his solo flights were successfully landed, Jonathan became the world record holder in three aeronautical disciplines. He is now the youngest person to solo both a helicopter and airplane on the same day; the youngest African-American to solo a helicopter; and the youngest African-American to fly a helicopter roundtrip internationally.

Jonathan, accompanied by his instructor and Today’s Aeronautical Museum founder Robin Petgrave and his wife Myra, successfully landed the Friday before last in Canada at 1:35 p.m. PST at the Boundary Bay Airport in Delta, located approximately 30 minutes outside of Vancouver, British Columbia.

His scheduled arrival time of noon had been delayed because of continuous headwinds encountered on the last leg of his journey between North Bend, Ore., and Boundary Bay, Canada.

The story received coverage on local, national and Canadian news channels. “I am very excited about being in Canada and looking forward to passing my tests so that I can solo both a plane and helicopter on the same day,” he told reporters meeting his plane in Canada. “We met many people along the way who already knew about my flight, and I would like to thank them for their kindness and words of encouragement.”

Jonathan also fulfilled a long-time wish to solo both an airplane and helicopter on the same day. He first flew solo in a Cessna-152 airplane at the Pacific Flying Club located at the Boundary Bay Airport. He then traveled 20 minutes away to Heli-College Canada Training Center at Langley Airport, where he took a solo flight in a Robinson R22 helicopter. His world record flights took place on Thursday, June 29.

Jonathan’s successful trip came to an end when he landed at Compton-Woodley Airport Sunday, July 1.

The legal age for solo flights in the U.S.A. is 16, which is why the 14-year-old flew to Canada to conduct his record-breaking flights.

Jonathan graduated this year from St. Francis Cabrini School in Inglewood and will enter the ninth grade in September as a freshman at Cleveland High School in Reseda. He has been training to fly since 2003 and has logged more than 60 hours of combined flight training.

He has been involved with the aeronautical museum’s youth program since he met Petgrave at the age of 6, according to John Strickland, the boy’s father.

Jonathan trained for the past three years at Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum in Compton, a non-profit organization that teaches disadvantaged children to fly planes and helicopters in return for community service.

Jonathan has made up his mind to become a commercial airline pilot, said his father, an entrepreneur who operates a car detailing business. “I think that’s excellent,” he said. “Our family has always been very supportive of Jonathan’s interest in aviation. His grandparents, my wife, my in-laws and myself have always been available to drive him over there after school. We appreciate Robin’s mentorship of Jonathan and we appreciate his program. He’s doing great things for our young people.”

“I have about 30 of these little guys at the museum,” Petgrave told reporters on the ground in Canada. “They work hard, washing planes and helping to take care of them. In return I give them flight lessons.”

When a reporter asked if the students were wealthy kids from communities like Beverly Hills, Robin gave a big laugh. “No, far from it,” he said. “If it weren’t for this program, these kids would certainly not have this opportunity.”

Petgrave founded the museum in Torrance, and brought it to its location at Compton Airport at the invitation of Mayor Eric Perrodin. “We matched the mayor’s vision of what he wanted for the city of Compton,” he said. “Our program — and the exceptional accomplishments of our young pilots — have brought favorable notice to the city.

“At first I thought it was great when we had one young pilot of this caliber. Now we have more than 50.”

Students must do community service to earn a place in the program. The program is open to kids 8 to 18 years of age. It takes place after school and on weekends, and the kids have an opportunity to use a flight simulator as well as learn about aviation history, avionics and engineering.

Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum has been honored by Congress for its work with young, disadvantaged kids.

The museum is located at 961 W. Alondra Blvd. For questions and information, contact Cynthia Macon at (310) 940-8801 or Mmacon1960@aol.com.