May 13, 2022

Black 16-Year-Old Plans To Fly Solo Across The Country To Learn About African-Americans Who Flew During WW2

Chicago teenager, Zaire Horton, will be embarking on a solo trip in his motor glider with plans to visit seven HBCUs that were influential in teaching pioneering Black pilots during World War II.

By age 14, Horton was learning how to fly a motor glider and by 15 – he was able to soar the skies solo.

When he turned 16, he obtained his glider pilot’s license and at 17 Horton expects to receive his private pilot and aeromechanics license before graduating from high school.

According to  CBS News, the teen pilot started taking classes at the College Preparation and Placement Program at Dunbar Vocational Career Academy in Chicago.

“The seven states that my instructor and I have selected for my tour all house a historically Black university that played an instrumental role in the history of aviation,” 

“Most people don’t realize that Tuskegee wasn’t the only university or HBCU that was training pilots for World War II,” Horton told the broadcaster.

Besides becoming a pilot, his other goal is to inspire teenagers to try something new.

“In Chicago, you don’t really hear too much about people flying just like me, I didn’t know,” he added.

Article Tags : ,
Abbianca Makoni

Abbianca Makoni is a content executive and writer at POCIT! She has years of experience reporting on critical issues affecting diverse communities around the globe.