Earlier this month, there were smiling faces at Wanganui Aero Club as Casey Lithgow and Cameron Allardice both completed their first solo flight, and Leroy Johnston gained his Commercial Pilot's Licence.
Casey Lithgow's father, Dean, is a pilot, and Casey has been flying for about a year now.
"I suppose I was influenced by my father and then when I had my first flight it hooked me on it," says Casey. His solo flight was in a Piper PA-38 Tomahawk.
"It was good - it felt really cool." Chief Flying Instructor Nathan Mauchline flew with him to make sure all was well.