Is it a bird? Is a plane? No, it’s a teenager from Tycroes.

Max Jackson, 16, dreams of becoming a pilot and his dream became reality last month as he took to new heights for the first time on his own.

The Ysgol Dyffryn Aman sixth former has been having flying lessons for the last 18 months and flew his first solo flight on November 26.

Ahead of the flight, Max has been learning all the different manoeuvres alongside an instructor including circuits, taking off and landing and also going in a circle in the aircraft.

Although he can’t officially get his licence until he is 17, Max is currently a member of Cambrian Flying Club, a fully licensed flying school based at Swansea Airport.

The group offers EASA Part-FCL Pilots Licence (PPL), Light Aircraft Pilots Licence (LAPL) training, as well as Night Qualification and Instrument Rating (Restricted).

Cambrian Flying Club operates a well-maintained fleet of 4 PA-38 Piper Tomahawk, 2 seat aircraft and a Reims/Cessna 172N – Skyhawk, 4 seat aircraft.

The LAPL course trains an applicant to fly any simple single-engine aeroplane with a maximum all up weight of 2000kgs.

The licence allows the holder to fly solely within EU airspace only and they may carry up to a maximum of three passengers.

The approved course at Cambrian Flying Club is laid out in accordance with CAA requirements.

Max said: “Having completed over 15 hours of training it was a truly rewarding and exhilarating experience to take control of the aircraft myself for the first time.

“I’m looking forward to the next stage of my training.”

Dad Martin added: “I was there with Max’s mum watching his first solo flight with our hearts in our mouths, but we are very proud.

“He is in the middle of tests and he has been working hard.

“He has been having lessons on a one to one basis around once a month and his instructor was happy for him to take part in his first flight on his own.

“The first milestone for Max will be to get his private pilots licence.

I would like to say congratulations to Max on behalf of the whole family.”