Aerobility helps disabled athlete fly solo on 16th birthday

Aerobility history was made yesterday when our youngest student flew solo on his 16th birthday.

Bradley Brockies, who first flew with Aerobility in September 2018, made his first solo flight on his birthday yesterday (August 3rd) – the youngest age it is legally permissible to fly on your own. In doing so, he also became the youngest student to fly solo through the charity.

Bradley, who has also won Gold medals for Great Britain at the World Para Taekwondo Championships and the European Para Taekwondo Championships, has never let his autism stand in the way of his dual passions of Taekwondo and Aviation.

His love of Aviation started after he went to the Eastbourne Airshow “Airbourne” in 2009 and he has since moved on to both flying and photographing aircraft. He even has his own Instagram account to showcase his photos (@london_aviation105).

Bradley, who has just finished Year 11 at a specialist school in Kent, had his first taster flight in August 2016 and first became aware of Aerobility in August 2018 after he heard an interview over the Tannoy at the Festival of Flight, Biggin Hill.

He took his first flight with Aerobility Flying Instructor Steve Bradd on 8th September 2018 and continued with monthly lessons until he passed his skills test earlier this month.

Says Bradley Brockies:

“I’m hugely proud of achieving my aim of flying solo on my 16th Birthday and thank Aerobility for all the help and support they have given me in helping me achieve my dream. After school, I want work in the aviation industry and hope to become a pilot.”

Adds Aerobility CEO Mike Miller-Smith MBE: 

“We are delighted to have helped such a talented and dedicated young man achieve his ambition of flying solo at such a young age. We are sure Bradley will go on to realise his dream of becoming a pilot and we will do all we can to help him.

“Aerobility teaches anyone, with any disability to fly a plane. We do this because it asks the questions ‘If I can fly a plane, what else can I do?  Bradley’s achievement encapsulates everything we are about at Aerobility – helping disabled people gain the confidence and acquire the necessary skills to achieve their life goals, whatever they may be.”