Congratulations to Young Eagle Madison Malcomb, EAA 1207213, who soloed on her 16th birthday on April 19 in an experimental RV-12 after just 10 hours of instruction. Madison is the third person in her family to do a 16th-birthday solo, and will be the sixth in her family to become a pilot. She said she’s known she wanted to fly since she hopped into the seat of her grandpa’s 172 as a young girl.
“I was smiling nearly the whole flight and as I taxied back, I knew, I did it,” Madison said. “I waited so long and I finally did it by myself. I’ve had people at my school tell me there’s no way I would be ready, but I could feel I was prepared. You could say I felt ‘plane’ happiness. Pun intended.”
Madison has helped out at her local airport during Young Eagles events and said she loves seeing the younger kids getting excited and inspired to fly. Next up for Madison is earning her private certificate when she turns 17 and a possible career in aviation. She is also currently participating in the student build of an RV-12 through her high school’s Aviation Nation program, founded by Bob Kelly, EAA 666953.
Madison was gracious in thanking her flight instructor Ron Huddleston, EAA 120240, and everyone in her family for supporting her, especially her father for showing her all the possibilities flying has to offer; her grandfather for encouraging her to do her best; and her older brother for answering all of her aviation questions and flying her to AirVenture and SUN ’n FUN International Fly-In & Expo for the past five years.
Congratulations again, Madison, and blue skies as you continue your flight training!
Have you reached a milestone recently? Passed a checkride, given your first or hundredth Young Eagle flight, flown your homebuilt for the first time? Tell us about it at editorial@eaa.org.