A KINGS Worthy teenager has become the youngest person in the country to fly a plane solo – having earned his wings just hours into his 16th birthday.

Oliver Jarrett, a former pupil at The Henry Beaufort School in Winchester, had been taking flying lessons with the Airbourne Aviation flying school at Popham Airfield since he was 14.

On his birthday, after a check with examiner Mac Smith, Oliver took to the air alone and performed his first solo flight, which was a lap around the airfield in the busy circuit that was bustling with other aircrafts.

Once on the ground, he was met by his instructor Ben Hilton and school director Matt Myatt, who handed Oliver his wings.

He is now the youngest of three 16 year olds who have all received their wings from the Airbourne Aviation flying school this year.

Apart from being his 16th birthday, Oliver had also received his GCSE results from school and learned that he had passed all 11 of his subjects.

The next step in his journey to gaining his National Private Pilot’s license – which would allow him unrestricted travel in the aircraft and the ability to carry passengers – is a day trip to Le Touquet in France, which he will be flying to along with other members of the school.