A South Carolina teen claims to be the youngest dual-rated pilot in the U.S. According to his local newspaper, The Southern Pines Pilot, Zealand Shouse got a private airplane certificate on Dec. 10 to go along with his lighter-than-air ticket. His father, a former airport manager, is also a CFI and provided most of Zealand's instruction. "It's probably harder when your instructor is your father," Shouse said. "He knew what I was capable of and if I ever seemed to back off from studying or flight lessons, he let me know." In 2004, Shouse was part of the U.S. Hot Air Balloon team that competed in the world championships in Japan. Zealand has spent most of his short life around airports and airplanes and, at age four, would pile up phone books on the seat of airplanes so he could hold the yoke and see over the panel. His next challenge is four years at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, after which he intends to join the Air Force.
Email this article
A South Carolina teen claims to be the youngest dual-rated pilot in the U.S. According to his local newspaper, The Southern Pines Pilot, Zealand Shouse got a private airplane certificate on Dec. 10 to go along with his lighter-than-air ticket. His father, a former airport manager, is also a CFI and provided most of Zealand's instruction. "It's probably harder when your instructor is your father," Shouse said. "He knew what I was capable of and if I ever seemed to back off from studying or flight lessons, he let me know." In 2004, Shouse was part of the U.S. Hot Air Balloon team that competed in the world championships in Japan. Zealand has spent most of his short life around airports and airplanes and, at age four, would pile up phone books on the seat of airplanes so he could hold the yoke and see over the panel. His next challenge is four years at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, after which he intends to join the Air Force.
