A 16-year-old schoolgirl has become one of the youngest people in the UK to fly a plane solo - although she is still too young to drive a car.

Jennifer Cuthill completed the impressive milestone after only 17 hours of flying tuition and has set her sights on becoming a commercial pilot.

The teenager is the youngest member and one of only a few female students at Leading Edge Flight Training based at Glasgow Airport.

Jennifer, from Johnstone, Renfrewshire, who is still too young to drive, took to the skies on her own on September 8.

She was supposed to fly on her 16th birthday on August 9, but poor weather conditions scuppered the attempt.

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) rules mean people have to be at least 16 before they can fly an aircraft on their own.

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Jennifer said: "It has always been a dream of mine to begin flying since I was a young girl.

"I never asked for it, knowing how expensive it is, but when my dad mentioned it I took up the opportunity.

"I would’ve never completed it without the great help from Leading Edge Flying Club.

"It was nerve racking, but I knew I could do it." 
Proud dad Brian Cuthill, 54, said: “We wanted her to do it on her birthday but a weather front came in and they wouldn’t let her do it because she’s a student.

“That was only after 17 hours and she was completely alone in the plane.

“If you’re in a car you can pull over but if you’re in a plane it needs to come down one way or another.

“She got a bit nervous when she saw all the fire engines, but they were just ready incase something happened.

“It looks like she’s the youngest in Scotland, and possibly the second or third youngest in the UK.

“The rest of the family are over the moon but Jennifer’s reaction was cucumber cool.”

It came as a complete surprise to father-of-three Brian, as Jennifer kept her attempt secret.

Jennifer performed a take off and landing and was in the air on her own for around an hour.

She completed some refresher lessons after the poor weather in August, but Brian didn’t expect her to complete the feat after only one lesson back in the air.

Brian said: “She done a refresher test with her instructor on the Saturday, then she came back and instructor told me she done her first solo.

“The guy said she done a perfect landing.

“Next it’s five hours of solo flying, then it’s a cross country flight.

“That’ll require 75 minutes to another airport, like Perth, and back again.”

Jennifer, who is also a football referee, decided to take up flying lessons after Brian suggested it while he drove her to school at Glasgow High.

After her first taste of life in the air, she hasn’t looked back and wants to become a commercial pilot when she’s older.

Brian said: “Last August we passed the airport and I asked her if she doesn’t fancy trying flying.

“She done a test flight and came back down with a big smile on her face.

“It’s a great career if you can get into it.”

Brian, a maintenance engineer, is now working more hours to keep up with the payments for more flying lessons, which cost more than £300 at a time.

Jennifer’s next goal is to complete 40 hours of flying time and acquire an aeroplane license by her 17th birthday.

Brian said: “I’m doing a lot of overtime to pay for this.

“Each lesson is more than £300 but I’m very keen, it’s a great opportunity for her.

“I want to help her as much as I can.

“I’d like to see her get her pilot license next year on her 17th birthday.

“That’ll be another milestone but it’ll depend on the weather.”

Allan Falconer, owner of Leading Edge Flight Training, said: “Jennifer’s done very well, picked it up very quickly and gone solo already.

“I certainly don’t think there’s anything to stop her passing her pilot's license and I understand she’s keen to go commercial so I’m sure she’ll do very well.”