Compton, California - February 18, 2008 — The Tuskegee Airmen were dedicated and determined young men who enlisted to become America's first black military pilots at a time when many people thought that black men lacked intelligence, skill, courage and patriotism.
Students at Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum in Compton, California, are dedicated and determined teenagers who want to show the world they can succeed. And in doing so, the students have decided to pay tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen by setting new aviation world records.
Kelly Anyadiki, 16, plans to become the youngest African American female to solo seven airplanes on the same day, and Jonathan Strickland, also 16, will solo seven airplanes and two helicopters. The world record events are scheduled to take place at Compton Woodley Airport on March 15, 2008.
"The kids at Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum want to tell the world that the heritage of the Tuskegee Airmen is alive and well in a new generation," said TAM founder Robin Petgrave. "These new world records the kids will set are an example of where the past meets the present and the future!"
At age 14, Strickland became the youngest African American to fly solo in a Robinson R-22 helicopter and a Cessna 152 on the same day. Strickland flew an R44 with an instructor from Compton, California to Canada to set those records, and in doing so also became the youngest African American to fly a helicopter internationally, and to fly a helicopter on an international round-trip.
On March 15, Anyadiki will fly solo in a Piper Tomahawk, a Cessna 150, a Cessna 172RG, a Cessna 152, a Piper Cherokee 140, a Cessna 172SP and a Piper Warrior. Strickland will solo in each of those aircraft as well, plus two more flights in a Robinson R22 and an R44 helicopter.
Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum offers aviation-themed after-school programs for more than 800 children in grades K-12. The museum also gives youth a chance to work in exchange for flight instruction time. For more information, click here.
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Jonathan Strickland soloed in Canada in June 2006, becoming the youngest African American to fly a helicopter internationally and to fly a helicopter on an international round-trip.
Photo by Jessica Ambats, Plane & Pilot Magazine
On March 1, 1942, the first class of Tuskegee-trained pilots received their wings and commissions into the U.S. Army Air Force at Tuskegee Army Air Field.
Photo Credit: National Park Service.
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