There are first flights, and then there are first flights in a Tiger Moth.
Lower Sixth Former Jo joined a very select club last Sunday when he completed his first solo flight in the iconic open‑cockpit biplane. It was a moment few young pilots experience, and even fewer achieve in such a historic and demanding aircraft. After building up 14 hours of flying time and successfully completing a series of training circuits, the milestone came almost unexpectedly.
“I had just finished my fourth circuit with my instructor when he asked, ‘Do you want to go by yourself now?’” Jo recalled. “I knew that the only answer was yes.”
With a handshake and a final moment of encouragement, his instructor stepped out of the aircraft, leaving Jo alone at the controls. “I was nervous,” Jo admitted, “but I trusted myself and my training.”
Taxiing to the runway, Jo prepared for take-off, the weight of the moment beginning to sink in. Yet as the throttle opened and the aircraft surged forward, instinct and focus took over. “As I lined up and pushed the throttle, the nerves disappeared. All I could think about was keeping the aircraft straight and aligned.”
Then came lift-off and with it, a sense of exhilaration. “When the wheels left the ground, I felt a huge sense of joy. But then there was this strange realisation, it was just me, the aircraft and my checklist.”
Flying solo in a Tiger Moth is no ordinary feat. Known for its unforgiving handling and the skill required to fly it well, the aircraft offers a pure form of aviation, one that requires coordination and confidence. “The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to always trust yourself and your training,” Jo reflected. “When you do that, the nerves become controlled and you can focus completely on what you’re doing.”
Despite the roar of the open cockpit, Jo noted a surprising difference in flying alone, saying, “It’s quieter in a way. There’s no one else there. And, of course, there’s the benefit of not having someone blocking your view when you’re trying to land!”
Among pilots, there’s a well-known phrase, “If you can fly the Tiger Moth, you can fly anything.” For Jo, it’s a mantra that captures both the challenge and the achievement. “It teaches you what proper flying is – real coordination and control from head to toe,” he said.
Jo is now firmly on course to complete his Private Pilot Licence (PPL) by the end of the summer, a remarkable achievement in itself, but his ambitions reach even higher. “My aim is to go into commercial aviation or join the RAF and fly fast jets like the Eurofighter Typhoon.”
Jo’s progress has been exceptional, and as last weekend demonstrated, this is just the beginning of a very exciting journey for him.
