Maverick Foletta began learning how to fly from his father. Photo / Mike Foletta
Maverick Foletta began learning how to fly from his father. Photo / Mike Foletta
Two years into his lessons and Californian Maverick Foletta is almost ready to fly a plane solo – if only he wasn’t just 8 years old.
Maverick told American outlet KSBW news that his dad gave him some lessons when he was 6 and he “really enjoyed it”.
The MissionPark Elementary School student said he was inspired by the 1986 movie Top Gun, whose main character inspired his name.
“I want to be like Top Gun Maverick,” the 8-year-old told KSBW.
While age will stop you from driving a car, there is no age restriction on flying an aeroplane with an instructor in the United States (or New Zealand, for that matter), although you must be 16 to fly solo.
“If Maverick could, he’d probably be ready to solo pretty soon, maybe in the next couple of flight lessons,” flight instructor Enoch Weichers said.
Maverick has already logged 10 hours of flying time, but people usually fly 40 to 60 hours before they go solo, Weichers said.
“I think kids really tend to learn really quickly because they don’t have any preconceived notions of how to do things. He’s very humble and a very quick learner.”
Maverick Foletta began learning how to fly from his father. Photo / Mike Foletta
Maverick’s dad, Mike Foletta, has been flying with him a lot and teaching him lots of good habits, Weichers said.
Foletta saidhe had always dreamed of flying with his son.
“I’ve been flying a long time. I got my license a long time ago, then took a break, then started flying again,” Foletta said.
“It’s always been my dream to fly with Maverick, and that was a dream come true.”
Maverick saidthere were so many things to focus on while flying, both understanding what you’re doing in the plane and looking outside so you know where you’re going.
He told the reporters that flying with his dad had brought them closer together.
Maverick Foletta began learning how to fly when he was 6. Photo / Unsplash
While there’s no age restriction on taking flying lessons in New Zealand, students have to be able to reach the controls (reckon!), according to the Civil Aviation Authority.
Children from the age of 12 can also join the New Zealand Cadet Forces or the Young Eagles and learn to fly in partnership with local aero clubs.
Students learn to fly with a pilot, monitor the instruments and learn the foundations of flying.
