SCHOOLGIRL Amelia Richardson is the UK’s youngest glider instructor at just 16 — despite being too young to drive a car.
Amelia was gifted a lesson for her 13th birthday.
5
Amelia stunned pals when she became the UK's youngest glider instructor at just 16 Credit: RedCurrant Media 5
Amelia earned her solo license at 14 Credit: RedCurrant Media
By 14, she had a solo licence.
Now she has clocked up enough hours to qualify as an instructor and can guide beginners through their first flights.
Amelia, from Buckingham, Bucks, said: “After school, if there’s a plane free, I’ll go for a flight before I do my homework.”
And despite turning 17 this week, the teenager said she’d rather spend her hard-earned cash than learning to drive.
READ MORE UK NEWS ICE COOL Loved high street chain 'set to make UK comeback' and open 25 stores this year
WELL-WORTH IT How Woolworths may return to UK as chain's boss admits it's 'on bucket list'
Dad James said: “We’re so proud of Amelia – being take for a flight by her was a very surreal experience.
“Before we went up she sat me down and told me I wasn’t in charge in the air, she was – which I was quite glad about!
“She’s always been a bit of an adrenalin junkie and she’d been talking about flying for ages when we thought we’d let her have a flying lesson for her birthday.
“We thought it would be a one-time thing but she’s never looked back.
Most read in The Sun
ADOPTION HELL We adopted brothers but we gave one back, he displayed odd sexual behaviour
FAMILY TRAGEDY Two young girls found dead with dad & aunt in Norwich home are named
foolish Sir David Jason left Only Fools and Horses crew quaking in 'explosive co-star row'
GRIEF STRICKEN Mum-of-three, 39, collapses and dies while giving eulogy at funeral
“She might be young, but she’s as dedicated and talented as any other glider pilot”
A spokesperson from the British Gliding Association said: “Amelia is also a great role model for young women, many of whom wrongly assume for a variety of reasons that flying is something they can’t do.
“Amelia is a qualified glider pilot and also holds what is titled a ‘basic’ instructor rating, which means that she can teach certain flying exercises under close supervision and with regular standardization checks at her gliding club.
5
Amelia started gliding after she was gifted a lesson for her 13th birthday Credit: RedCurrant Media 5
The young flier will even take to the skies between leaving school and starting homework Credit: RedCurrant Media 5
Dad James said: 'We’re so proud of Amelia' Credit: RedCurrant Media