Aged 16, Sherida Hurst can now legally fly a glider
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A teenager has celebrated her 16th birthday by making a long-awaited solo flight in a glider.
Keen glider pilot Sherida Hurst, from Spalding in Lincolnshire, was sponsored by the Royal Navy to promote the recruitment of aviators.
She attends the Peterborough and Spalding Gliding Club, where the sponsorship funding supports the use of equipment and lessons.
Sherida had to wait until she was 16 to fly solo for legal reasons.
She said: "I've always had an interest in flying, so I was really grateful to be sponsored to go on and fulfil this challenge.
"The solo flight was scary at first, but I had some really good training and was well prepared.
"It was a clear day with just the right wind conditions, and once in the air I was just enjoying the flight - especially as it was my birthday."
Pilots are used within the Royal Navy for a variety of roles, such as flying jets or using helicopters to supply humanitarian aid in disaster zones.
Warrant Officer Kevin Fear said: "The Royal Navy was pleased to sponsor Sherida as she's such an enthusiastic pilot.
"I hope this raises the awareness that it's not only the RAF who need aviators, the Royal Navy also use them for essential tasks."
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