High flying schoolboy takes to the skies

Andrew Swann up in the sky. Credit: ITV News West Country

He may still be three years away from being allowed to drive a car, but age is no barrier for one schoolboy from Plymouth.

Changes to aviation regulatons meant that at 14-years-old Andrew Swann was allowed to put himself through months of intensive training to qualify. Finally he's completed his first solo flight:

Andrew is a member of the Dartmoor Gliding Society which is based at Brentor.

It was Andrew's attitude as much as his ability that impressed his instructors:

Andrew up in the sky. Credit: ITV News West Country

Going solo was also a proud moment for the Andrew's parents Mike and Emma:

Andrew's proud parents pose for a photograph. Credit: ITV News West Country

Andrew hopes one day to be a Commercial Airline pilot.

If he keeps progressing as well as he has done, that ambition might come to fruition a lot sooner than he'd planned.

Watch the full report by Jeff Welch here: