'Perfect' day helps 16-year-old pilot to fly solo

A teenage aviation enthusiast said it felt "pretty cool" to fly a plane by himself for the first time.

Guernsey Aero Club said 16-year-old Marley was believed to be the youngest person to fly solo in the Bailiwick of Guernsey.

Marley, who had three years of training, said he had not expected to go out in a plane on the day he flew solo in December, but the weather conditions turned out to be "perfect".

He said being up in the sky was the biggest part of why he loved aviation and he felt "really, really lucky" to be able to fly solo.

Marley first took to the skies in the co-pilot seat as a 13th birthday present and he said he had learned a lot since then.

He added he wanted to have a career in piloting private planes.

Of his solo trip, he said: "I've had to do my aviation law exam before I went solo and I had to do a medical as well.

"I've learned a lot about the principles of flight, how to control and aeroplane and how to deal with emergencies.

"My journey has been ups and downs but it's mainly been amazing - I just love flying."

His mother Kayleigh said Marley had loved aviation since he was a young boy and "had any plane model and toy you can think of".

She added: "He's been obsessed with planes since he was about one-and-a-half, and he is still obsessed."

She added she would "probably cry" if her son achieved his dream of being a full-time pilot.

"He's working really hard to get to where he wants to be and he has lots of determination," Kayleigh said.

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