A Kerikeri teen who can fly a plane solo even though she's not yet allowed to drive a car has won aviation scholarships worth $1000.
Venturer Scout Mikayla Miskelly, 16, won the awards at the Walsh Memorial Scout Flying School held in January at Matamata airfield in the Waikato. The event, which includes two weeks of flight instruction and classroom learning, is run by the Scout Association but is open to other youth organisations.
The Year 12 Kerikeri High student said attending the school had been a goal for a long time and she had fundraised last year to cover the $1500 cost. Another scholarship had filled the shortfall.
After a week's instruction, Mikayla was the first student to fly by herself. After landing, she was greeted with the traditional aviation "baptism" when students who had flown solo in previous years doused her with buckets of water.
"It was the most awesome feeling to be up there realising that you are totally in control of the plane," she said.
