Schoolboy earns his flying wings

Chris Lawrence has been flying gliders since he was 13.

A north Suffolk schoolboy is celebrating his 16th birthday with his first solo flight.

Chris Lawrence, of Worlingham, flew alone for the first time from Norfolk Gliding Club's Tibenham airfield on Monday afternoon.

The teenager, who attends Sir John Leman High School in Beccles, has been flying gliders since he was 13.

"It's great fun and I want to get a job in aviation, possibly in the RAF," Chris said.

"Chris has been a model student, and a great asset to the club," said club chairman Graham Ashworth. "And his progress shows the value of our cadet scheme."

Chris said he spent most weekends and many of his school holidays at the club over the last two years and has already flown well past the minimum number of flights to go solo.

"Only the legal minimum age has stopped him going solo before now," said Chief Flying Instructor Andy Vidion. "He has already flown more than many pre-solo pilots.

"Soloing on his 16th birthday is a real feather in his cap," said Mr Vidion.