PRESS RELEASE: Jonathan Strickland Successfully Lifts Off

14-Year Old Helicopter Pilot Successfully Lifts Off:
Expected To Reach Vancouver, BC Canada Today
On His Way to Breaking Three World Records
Youngest Person to Solo Both a Helicopter & Airplane on Same Day
Youngest African-American to Solo a Helicopter
Youngest African-American to Fly a Helicopter Roundtrip Internationally

COMPTON, CALIFORNIA–Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum today announced that Jonathan Strickland, a 14-year old world-record contending helicopter and airplane pilot, successfully lifted off at 6:53 AM, Thursday, June 22nd in a Robinson R44 helicopter from the Compton/Woodley Airport in Compton, California. Jonathan is expected to complete the first leg of his journey today–Friday, June 23, 2006—landing at approximately 12 noon at the Boundary Bay Airport located outside of Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Jonathan is attempting to fulfill and pass Canadian requirements to solo both an airplane and helicopter at the age of 14, versus the legal age of 16 in America. If successful with his quest, Jonathan will break three world records becoming the youngest person to solo both an airplane and helicopter on the same day, youngest African-American to solo a helicopter, and youngest African-American to fly a helicopter roundtrip internationally.

Jonathan, whose initial departure was captured by major television stations and morning news shows, was surrounded by his mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. John and Andrea Strickland, his siblings, family, friends, the Tuskegee Airmen, and other young fellow pilots from the museum’s Aero-Squad Explorer Aviation Program. As he left on his journey, Jonathan performed several maneuvers and a fly-by in his helicopter before taking off into the skies over Los Angeles headed northward accompanied by two additional television news helicopters in the sky.

Jonathan is being accompanied on the trip as required by law by Robin Petgrave, an accomplished certified flight instructor and the museum’s Executive Director and his wife Myra Petgrave. Jonathan flew at the controls for over ten hours the first day, refueling and stopping at Harris Ranch Airport in Coalinga, California; Napa County Airport in Napa, California; and Arcata-Eureka Airport in McKinleyville, California, before resting overnight at the North Bend Airport in Oregon due to safety concerns about high winds.

If weather and safety permit, Jonathan expects to depart North Bend, Oregon at 7 a.m. this morning, headed to his final destination, the Boundary Bay Airport outside of Vancouver, BC Canada, where he anticipates to land today, Friday, June 23rd at approximately 12 noon.

While in Canada, Jonathan will be required to pass two written exams and demonstrate his competency to fly to a certified Canadian examiner. Jonathan plans to first solo a Cessna-152 airplane at the Pacific Flying Club located at the Boundary Bay Airport, then travel twenty minutes away to Heli-College Canada Training Center at Langley Airport where he will then solo a Robinson R22 helicopter. If successful, Jonathan will become the youngest person to be certified to solo both a plane and helicopter on the same day, and simultaneously the youngest African-American to solo a helicopter. The target date of the flights will be either Wednesday or Thursday, June 28th or 29th. (An update with the specific time will be made available before flight time or by contacting flight instructor Robin Petgrave at 310-938-2727).

Jonathan will then depart for home flying the Robinson R44 helicopter where he is expected to land Saturday, July 1st at 11 AM in Compton, California to a hero’s welcome, and a new world record as the youngest African-American to fly a helicopter roundtrip internationally. To celebrate, an Open House will be held at Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum from 10 AM until 2 PM where dignitaries and community leaders are expected to be on hand for the landing.

Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum is a Congressionally-recognized non-profit that teaches disadvantaged children to fly planes and helicopters, for free, in return for community service. The museum is noted for being the home of several world-recording setting young pilots mentored by the Tuskegee Airmen including Jimmy Haywood and Kenny Roy, who at ages 11 and 14 took an historic flight to Canada in September 2004 to become the youngest African –American to fly a plane roundtrip international and the youngest African American to solo an airplane.

The Pacific Flying Club at Boundary Bay Airport is located at Unit 96 4400-72nd Street Delta, BC, CANADA V4K 5B3, telephone (604) 946-0011, (604) 946-0821 fax, website: pacificflying.com.

The Heli-College Canada Training is located at Langley Municipal Airport at Hangar #2-5333 216th Street, Langley, British Columbia, Canada V2Y 2N3, telephone 800-363-4354 or 604-530-3812, 604-532-7821 fax, website: heli-college.com.

. Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum is located at 961 W. Alondra Boulevard in Compton, California 90222, 310-618-115, tamusem.org. For questions and inquiries, please contact Cynthia Macon, 310-940-8801 or Mmacon1960@aol.com. For the latest update on flight times, contact Robin Petgrave at 310-938-2727.