Friday, April 26, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
POTSDAM – Most teens long for their 16th birthdays so they can finally achieve one of the first rites of adulthood: getting a driver’s permit. But Sam Sargent of Ogdensburg had “higher” …
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POTSDAM – Most teens long for their 16th birthdays so they can finally achieve one of the first rites of adulthood: getting a driver’s permit.
But Sam Sargent of Ogdensburg had “higher” aspirations.
He woke up this morning, drove with his mom’s boyfriend Matt Peacock to Damon Field airport in Potsdam, and piloted his first solo airplane flight in Peacock’s plane.
Sargent, son of Laurie Sargent, who is a nurse along with Peacock at Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, had only been practicing for about two months.
He’s been learning with Kurt Thomas, an aviation instructor at Damon Field who mentioned this is the youngest solo flier he has ever taught.
In fact, while at 16 you can’t drive a car solo, the Federal Aviation Administration says you can pilot a plane solo.
Peacock said Sargent flew for a total of about 15 minutes, making three takeoffs and landings.
To celebrate Sargent’s achievement, they went out to breakfast afterwards.
