Singing Alicia Keys’ ‘Girl on Fire’, 15-year-old Elyzia Quin made her first solo flight on the weekend.
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The Nowra resident has had her sights set on becoming a pilot since she was just four-years-old. At 13, she set herself another goal – make her first solo flight around her 15th birthday.
After turning 15 on January 22, Elyzia ticked off her long-term goal on Sunday, February 19.
While it’s been a long time in the making, the venture came as a surprise to Elyzia’s carer and grandmother Jenni Quin.
“I saw her instructor Alex get out of the canopy and next minute she walked away,” Jenni said.
“Sure enough, next minute Elyzia took off and I just about started vomiting I was that nervous.”
Elyzia later told Jenni it was visualization – and the power of a good song that got her off the ground.
“She told me she just imagined Alex sitting next to her and when she started taking off she sung her theme song for the year,” Jenni said.
“It was a month after her birthday and she knew all along it was going to happen then.”
After many hours of study, flight training, scholarship wins and support from her family and friends, Jenni said said celebrations and few well-deserved presents will be in order to mark the event.
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