Junior pilot blazes air trail

Albany Flying Club’s first ever junior pilot, Lachlan Puls, recently took to the sky for his inaugural flying lesson and is hopeful of completing his first solo flight at 15 years old.

The recently formed club held its first annual general meeting in September and aims to provide aviation to general aviation pilots.

Lachlan, currently aged 14, flew the Cessna 150 Aerobat over Albany with AFC’s chief flying instructor, Julie Biser, who said the junior pilot showed plenty of promise.

“He did everything, the take-off, climbing turns, straight and level, 30-degree turns to the left and the right, glide descent and landing approach — you can’t ask for more than that,” Ms Biser said.

AFC president Laurence Green said it was a momentous occasion for the club.

“We have seen a milestone unfold which we hope will spread ambition to other young men and young women in our community to look outside the square, so to speak,” he said

“As members of the Albany Flying Club, we are so proud of Lachlan that we feel confident that he will complete his first solo flight on his 15th birthday in September 2017.

“We are so proud of our Club and the direction that it is going — it is not only youth we wish to engage, but also indigenous Australians, people with physical disabilities, tourism, jobs growth in the hospitality and service industries and a school of aeronautics as a career.”