Teen becomes first at Yukon HS aviation to get pilot license
YUKON, Okla. (KFOR) — A Yukon High School junior is making history as the first in the school district to get his private pilot license. The aviation program started three years ago when he was a freshman.
Behind the flying, studying, and simulator practice is 17-year-old Brenton Stidham.
"It's very peaceful...freeing," said Stidham, a junior at Yukon High School.
His love for aviation kicked off after a class he took in 8th grade.
"I learned about the property of lift with wings and how they worked, and I thought, wow, that's really cool, and I got more interested as time went on," said Stidham.
Stidham jumped right into the aviation program at Yukon High School as a freshman.
"It's been really exciting to see him progress from not knowing much to seemingly knowing everything in fact, I defer to him sometimes on some questions," said Bryan Jarrett," the aviation teacher at Yukon High School.
Three years later, Stidham used his school to move up and got his private pilot license. He also said it was an easy choice to get the license.
"One because it's awesome and two because I really like planes," said Stidham.
His teacher also said it's a huge accomplishment to be the first in the program to get the license and be so young.
"It's still awesome being 17 and having your private pilot's license," said Jarrett.
The license is a small step in a big dream for this teen.
"I'm trying to get through all the written licenses to get up to my airline transport pilot license so I can fly people in an airline," said Stidham.
When asked about his advice for prospective students who want to get their private pilot license? He had two simple words.
"Get it," said Stidham.