Compton Teenager Makes Aviation History

NBC 4 - News - Compton Teenager Gets Hero's Welcome After Making Aviation History

COMPTON, California -- A 14-year-old Inglewood boy returned to the Southland on Saturday a conquering hero after successfully landing a Robinson R44 helicopter at 11:05 a.m. at the Compton-Woodley Airport and laying claim to a record as the youngest African-American pilot to fly a helicopter round-trip internationally, as well as three other world records.

Jonathan Strickland, who will be a freshman at a Reseda high school in the fall, is the latest young pilot to set an aviation record as part of Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum's flying program, which enables youths to convert time spent on community service projects into flying time.

"Basically, it's another excuse so I can fly," he told a radio reporter shortly before takeoff from Compton Airport last week for Vancouver, Canada, where youngsters can obtain a pilot's license at age 14, compared to 16 in the United States....