KEVIN MARA became Ireland's youngest qualified pilot last Sunday when he celebrated his 17th birthday and received his wings from the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA).
A fifth year student at Belvedere College, Dublin, Kevin, from Drumcondra, only took up flying last May. He studied at the Pilot Shop in Dublin and joined the Aerial Advertising Flight Training School at Weston Aerodrome, near Lucan, Co Dublin.
Kevin had already passed his flying training and the written exams on air law, meteorology, human factors, theory of flight and navigation. However, he had to wait until his 17th birthday before he could he issued with his licence.
Kevin has also passed his commercial pilot's written exams and hopes for a career in aviation - after he sits the Leaving Cert exam in June.