Born in a family of pilots, the tot practices for an hour everyday on a flight simulator program at home and has flown along with father in trainer aircraft
Born in a family of pilots, the tot practices for an hour everyday on a flight simulator program at home and has flown along with father in trainer aircraft
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Barely old enough to be accepted into pre-school, but already flying in light aircraft with his pilot father. Meet 3-year-old Aedan Bala, who is probably the youngest flyer in the world who has mastered the flight simulator at home and yearns to take to the skies soon.
Early bird: Aedan's father says he has taken his son up in a small
aircraft such as the Citabria and the Cessna 172. Pics/Ramesh H S
When MiD DAY caught up with him, Aedan was at the Aero India 2010 show with his pilot father, Navin Bala, who quite interestingly, is the son of a pilot himself. Aedan had finished doing his rounds checking out the world's leading aircrafts at the sow and was in a playful mood.
u00a0"I am still learning and I am sure one day I will fly one of these fighter aircrafts," said Aedan. "Now I want to drink my juice," he added flashing a small can. u00a0Navin, the proud fatheru00a0 and Boeing 737 pilot with Oman Airways, said his was a pilot family and flying was in his son's genes.
Navin's father, Cap Balasubranyam was in the Indian Air Force and piloted a MiG 21 during the 1971 war, and is one of Aedan's instructors, while Bud Bricker of the US, the oldest active pilot at 92, is the main teacher.
"We have a simulator at home and Aedan spends an hour a day with it. He is extremely quick at learning," said Navin. He added that he has taken his son up in small aircraft such as the Citabria and the Cessna 172.
The flyboys
The family is presently based in Muscat, and Navin plans to relocate to the US so that Aedan can be trained as a flyer under Bricker. Navin's wife Joycee was a nurse with the same airline before marriage, but is au00a0 devoted mother now, looking after her children Aedan and his newborn brother, Auryn Bala.u00a0u00a0"I want both my kids to be pilots and this dream is possible, thanks to my wife's support. She is a bit concerned about the kids flying at an early age, but is encouraging," said Navin.
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