NEXT time you fly off on holiday, see if the pilot has driven to the airport. Why? Because two teenagers from Stebbing and Little Dunmow are well on the way to becoming commercial pilots having just flown solo for the first time, despite both being under

NEXT time you fly off on holiday, see if the pilot has driven to the airport.

Why? Because two teenagers from Stebbing and Little Dunmow are well on the way to becoming commercial pilots having just flown solo for the first time, despite both being under the legal age for driving lessons.

Firm friends Sam Barker, from Duck End, Stebbing, and his best chum Alex Duckett, from Warren Road, Little Dunmow, have just started the long road to becoming a commercial pilot by going solo at Andrewsfield Airfield within days of their 16th birthday. Both youngsters can now fly an aircraft solo but not drive a car.

Sam said: "We are delighted. Our next step is to get our full private pilots licence for which the minimum age is 17 and then to go to aviation college to continue studying and hopefully become fully fledged pilots.