HIGH-FLYER

Tom Butler first flew a plane when he was eight, flew solo two days after his 16th birthday and got his pilot’s license three weeks laterone of the youngest qualified pilots ever.

I had always been interested in flying despite my father’s objections. He is a farmer and he has never flown in his life. He used to say to me “We weren’t born with wings so we obviously weren’t meant to fly.” When I was a small boy I used to cycle to the nearest airfield, 20 kilometres away. There I just stood all day and watched as the planes took off and landed. I didn’t use to get home until after dark.

The pilots thought it was strange at first, but then they got used to seeing a small, solitary figure watching them. One day a young pilot offered to take me up in his plane. We were flying at 2,000 metres when he suddenly said, “Right, you can take over the controls now.” I couldn’t believe it- I was only eight but he was letting me fly his plane. I managed not to crash it and after that there was never any doubt. I was absolutely certain I wanted to be a pilot.

Over the next few years my interest in planes became almost an obsession. I spent every weekend and school holiday at the airfield. They gave me jobs to do such as cutting the grass and cleaning the aircraft. I even cleaned the toilets. They didn’t use to pay me anything but they took me up for short flights and gave me flying lessons instead. By the time I was 16 I had flown over 200 hours.

I will never forget my first solo flight. It is very different being on your own in a plane for the first time. Your life really is in your hands and my hands were shaking. My first solo landing was very nearly a disaster! Nevertheless, after a few more lessons I got my pilot’s license, when I was 16 years and 22 days old. I didn’t get my driver’s license until two years later. Now I am studying to be a real airline pilot, my father is finally used to the idea that I’m never going to be a farmer.