Teenager Ben Bowker passed his pilot's licence on his 17th birthday
A WANNABE Merseyside pilot has become one of the youngest people in the world to get a pilot’s licence.
Ben Bowker, who dreams of one day flying a Eurofighter Jet for the RAF, passed his flying test on his 17th birthday.
Inspired by Top Gun and an ambition to one day lead the Red Arrows, Ben took his first flying lesson at the age of 13.
He joined the air cadets and after finishing his GCSEs this summer, set about working towards his licence.
Now, after six months of hard work, 55 flying hours, 10 solo hours and eight written exams, Lydiate’s Ben can fly a plane before he can drive a car.
Ben, who is studying five A-Levels at Deyes High, in Maghull, said: “I’ve always wanted to fly and it’s my dream to join the RAF and fly the new cool Eurofighter Typhoon Jets.
“I did want to be a solo flyer by the age of 16, but I knew I would be one of the youngest people, maybe in the world, to pass on my 17th birthday.
“It was a fantastic day but it was one of the most stressful days I have ever had, the sun was in my eyes on landing and I was flying a plane I had never used before.”
Ben’s passion for flying began when his uncle, who used to fix planes in the RAF, sat him in the pilot seat of a Tornado when he was six.
Watching films like Top Gun when he was growing up, Ben’s passion for flight never left him and he wants to fly at the front of the Red Arrows in “Red 1”.
