A Marlow schoolboy celebrated his birthday in spectacular fashion by FLYING A PLANE over the Cotswolds.

Elliot Apperley visited the Cotswolds Gliding Club on July 22, his 14th birthday, and flew a K13 Glider, with instructor Geoff Dixon being present in the plane.

The teenager was watched by his mum, Gail, and his dad, Jonathan.

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Elliot said, “Due to lockdown, I thought the chances of going solo on my 14th birthday looked slim.

“Now the restrictions have eased, I can only thank the instructors for taking the time to give me the chance to do it.

“The day started off feeling like any other gliding day, but then it got very real as I was sat waiting for my first solo launch.

“Once I was flying, it felt very natural like any other time I have flown with an instructor.

“I am looking forward to doing some longer solo flights.”

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Elliot started learning to fly gliders when he was 10-years-old and is a keen member of the Air Cadets.

He is aiming to have a career in aviation but at this present moment, the teenager is leaning towards joining the RAF.

Elliot's dad, Jonathan, is also into aviation and flies both gliders and powered aircraft.

Anyone over the age of 14 can be permitted to fly a glider solo, whilst the age that someone can learn to drive in the UK is 17.