An unheard of aviation event occurred on the afternoon of Wednesday, 4th September in the skies above West Sale Airport.
Ryan Vardy (aged 47) and his eldest son Arki (aged 18), both of Maffra, achieved their first solo flights in a general aviation aeroplane on the same day under the watchful eye of Gippsland Flight Training’s Chief Instructor, Russell Lucas.
Mr Lucas has never witnessed - nor even heard of - a father and son first solo on the same day, during his four decades of flight instruction.
The duo only commenced once-weekly flying lessons three months ago and have worked hard together through GFT’s Foundation Flight Training Syllabus, which they have completed in almost exactly the same total flight time.
The Vardys will immediately move forwards with the next module of the Private Pilot Licence training programme which will culminate with them flying solo in the very near future in the West Sale training area located between Rosedale and Heyfield.
Ultimately, Arki plans to become an airline pilot while Ryan might just be content with privately flying with his family members onboard.
No surprise, that’s not where the story ends, as Arki has two younger brothers who have also caught the flying bug and are keen to learn to fly as soon as they can!