A ST George teenage who became the youngest ever Australian to fly a helicopter solo has returned to his home town, taking his cotton growing father on his first private flight since receiving his licence.
Katoota’s Dylan Gracie, 17, took off from the St George airport on Wednesday having officially finished his private licence requirements.
In 2016, the then Year 11 student at Nudgee College, was just 15 years and eight months old when he flew a Robinson R22 chopper for 10 minutes at Archerfield.
While he was expected to get his licence when he turned 16, CASA rule changes saw Dylan forced to wait until he was 17.
After graduating high school, he began a diesel fitter apprenticeship with SEB Mechanical in St George whom allowed him to finish his studies.
He said with his father having a plane licence, he had a strong love for flying.
“I just like being up in the air,” he said.
Dylan may one day further his studies with a commercial licence to work in cattle mustering.
