Fifteen year old Kimberly Anyadike flew from
one end of America to the other, which is known as cross country
flight in aviation parlance, thus becoming the youngest African American
female pilot to complete the journey.
Kimberly, whose parents are Nigerians broke the U.S. record when she
flew a single-engine Cessna cross-country from her hometown in
California to Newport Virginia, which took 13 days.
She learned to fly at age of 12 through the Compton-based Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum, which offers aviation lessons in an after-school program for disadvantaged youths, P.M News reports.
READ ALSO: PHOTO: Meet The First Muslim Female Pilot In Kano
The brave teenager came up with the idea on her own using the museum’s plane for her cross-country trip
Robert Petgrave, the museum’s founder said: “I told her it was going to be a daunting task, but she just said, ‘Put it on. I got big shoulders.’”
Levi Thornhill, 87, one of the Tuskeegee Airmen during World War II
was the adult safety pilot in her company for the historic ride.
READ ALSO: 7 Nigerian Pioneers Who Made The Nation Proud
Kimberly said: “They left such a great legacy, I had big shoes to fill. All they wanted to do was to be patriots for this country. They were told no, that they were silly, that they didn’t have cognitive development to fly planes. They didn’t listen. They just did what they wanted to do.”
The fifteen year old futher said she just wanted to inspire other children to believe in themselves.
At least 50 Tuskeegee Airmen autographed her plane during the journey.
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Kimberly preparing for take off Photo credit: PM News
She learned to fly at age of 12 through the Compton-based Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum, which offers aviation lessons in an after-school program for disadvantaged youths, P.M News reports.
READ ALSO: PHOTO: Meet The First Muslim Female Pilot In Kano
The brave teenager came up with the idea on her own using the museum’s plane for her cross-country trip
Robert Petgrave, the museum’s founder said: “I told her it was going to be a daunting task, but she just said, ‘Put it on. I got big shoulders.’”
Kimberly stands in front of her single-engine Cessna plane
READ ALSO: 7 Nigerian Pioneers Who Made The Nation Proud
Kimberly said: “They left such a great legacy, I had big shoes to fill. All they wanted to do was to be patriots for this country. They were told no, that they were silly, that they didn’t have cognitive development to fly planes. They didn’t listen. They just did what they wanted to do.”
The fifteen year old futher said she just wanted to inspire other children to believe in themselves.
At least 50 Tuskeegee Airmen autographed her plane during the journey.
Naij.com Home Page
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