OUR WEEKLY: Jonathan Strickland Receives Pilot’s License at 14
July 9th, 2006 Posted in Press
Jonathan Strickland Receives Pilot’s License at 14
Breaks world records
By Shirley Hawkins
OW Staff Writer
For someone who has just broken world records in aviation, 14-year-old Jonathan Strickland appears shy and modest about his accomplishment.
Strickland broke three records June 28. He set the record for the youngest African American to pilot a helicopter both round trip and one way internationally. He also was the youngest African American to solo in a helicopter with a license and he is also the youngest person to solo an airplane and a helicopter on the same day.
Strickland, who attends Cleveland High School in Reseda, had been dreaming of receiving his pilot’s license since he was 12, but had to wait until he was 14 to achieve his dream.
That made him old enough to fly to Canada and take the tests for his license.
Strickland was inspired to acquire his pilot’s license after watching the accomplishments of teens Jimmy Haywood and Kenny Roy, two fellow pilots, who are also students at Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum in Compton, Calif. The duo made history two years ago when they become two of the youngest pilots to receive their solo licenses.
Strickland, who has been a student at Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum for two and half years, flew to Canada with Robin Petgrave, his instructor at the Museum.
“It took me 15 hours to go one way and 15 hours to come back,” said Strickland. “I flew there with Robin on Thursday and we arrived in Canada on Friday.”
Once in Canada, Strickland “aced” the pilot’s tests. “I scored 90 after flying the airplane and 92 on the helicopter,” said Strickland, who soloed in a Cessna 52 airplane and a Robinson R22 helicopter. Strickland said he eventually wants to train at the Air Force academy and become a pilot.
Although he is licensed fly in Canada, Strickland must be accompanied by an adult if he pilots a plane in the United States.
Asked what it feels like to be the youngest pilot to fly solo in a helicopter and an airplane and receive a pilot’s license, Strickland said simply, “It’s pretty cool. I feel proud.”
