Natalie Makes First SOLO Flight on 16th Birthday 

Nice!!! I can still remember my instructor saying "...The first solo is the only fiight that you take off as a student and land as a pilot....". Congratulations Natalie!! The sky is yours!!

16yo girl: flies solo Me: closing the fridge slowly to see how the light turns off

The feeling of a first flight is SO hard to explain. Hearing her reactions and seeing the look of pure joy on her face is priceless. Thanks for sharing! I wish I could go back and document my first solo a couple years ago.

I love her, "oh shut up" as she sailed in for that touch and go! This was so worth the click! The joy is palpable and real, and I'm happy for her (and all the other young and old new pilots) for getting to experience that joy. I hope to do thr same some day.

Hats off to Mom and Dad as well for literally letting their kid fly away.

I'm in my 7th decade and this put tears in my eyes. Her excitement came through

Watching a kid solo never gets old. I remember my first solo at 17 like it was yesterday. My flight instructor was old school. "Radio? we don't need no stinking radio, just FLY the airplane kid. He would never tell his students when they were going to solo. It was always a surprise. Why we all loved him. We did a few "crash and dashes" that day around the patch (grass strip) and he decided he wanted a coffee and a doughnut. "Hey kid pull up to the pumps." " Are we done for the day Dave? " "Nope I'm done for the day, you're going to prove to me I didn't waste my valuable time on you. ? That was almost 50 years ago and my time with Dave still brings warmth to my heart and a smile to face. Hoorah Natalie you are a pilot now. You now feel a new confidence that will guide you through life. Well done young lady.

I love the fact that she seems surprised by her own incredible ability! You did it young lady, be very very proud!

There's a dad behind this confidence, good dads are always a shortcut for lucky ones . . .

Great job! I too am a pilot who soloed at 16. You never forget that day for the rest of your life. I recall so many kids my age at the time were busy partying, I hung out constantly at the airport. I knew all the pilots, mechanics, line workers, instructors, etc. In my high school of 1700 kids, I was the only pilot. Flying gives you so many opportunities and adventures. Just by hanging out constantly at the airport I met famous musicians, one vice president, got to board cool corporate jets and the most memorable, I had my Cessna 172 parked next to a Bonanza, and as I was preflighting, the pilot next to me was none other than James Irwin, one of the Apollo 15 astronauts that walked on the moon. Just me and him hanging out for a moment and preparing for a flight. You don't get those kind of experiences in a classroom or a party. Flying can always be an interesting part of your life, even if it's not your career. I've made connections with other pilots that landed me (pun intended) opportunities to access others I could otherwise never meet. For example, as a college student I went to NBC in New York for a class visit with the VP of Entertainment. He was a pilot, too. As a result, he spent time chatting with me and gave me total personal access to closed rehearsals of Saturday Night Live. When I got off the elevator John Belushi and Dan Akroyd met me and took me to the rest of the cast to spend the afternoon. It was cool. If I had not been a pilot, I would have never got in there. Flying can take you places far beyond actual flying. Dream big and enjoy your future!

Amazing! Loved the “OMG” scream at lift. She is a role model

Serenely calm and self confident lady has taken a giant step forward in doing something positive with her life. Hope she will be able to build on this to use it for something good for herself and others.

When she took off I got emotional 😂 just thinking about her parents seeing her take off alone. Congrats!!! She’s amazing! 💕

I don't even know Natalie but I am super proud of her

That has to be an amazing birthday gift, great job on your hard work and dedication to getting to your first solo!

She is full of talent and confidence. Well done child ❤️

Beautiful solo, this is just the beginning of a great career. Did my first solo 40 years ago and remember it like it was yesterday. You will too 🙂👍

In america she still has to wait 5 years to drink beer. But she is allowed to fly a plane.😂😂😂

Wow! Watching this brought me to tears and I felt so proud of her. What an accomplished young woman. She should be incredibly proud of herself! Soooooo inspiring!

My son is going to school to become a commercial pilot! I’ve watched his solo flight probably 100 times not sure there was a dry eye ever😢

They need to do a runway inspection after that one, excess butter on the runway! wow! haha! Congrats, safe winds and happy flying

This made me smile. I passed my driving test at 17 and thought the world was my oyster LOL I can only imagine how she would be feeling after that first flight, well done.

I vividly remember this flight for me and it is something I will never forget. You do for the first time what man was never intended to do but had found a way to accomplish, and you do it by yourself. You take flight. It’s a very bizarre feeling looking to your right and a empty seat with unlatched seatbelt is there. That was actually seven years ago today for me. 388 hours later and I learn something new every trip.

Natalie, your solo two years ago, if I'm reading it correctly, put a huge smile on my face so much that it hurts !! I remember my solo at Oakland airport back in 1989. It's a wonderful feeling. What I like about your solo is how enthusiastic you are. Its great to see young women doing this. Today, I fly the E175 at SkyWest Airlines and love it. What I'm getting at is that we occasionally have flight attendants that make the jump to pilot too> Great job !! Hope you're out there flying your dreams. GEEEEZZZZZ !!! My face still hurts smiling for you!!

She’s 16 flying a plane 👏👏. I’m 37 and can’t even drive a car ffs 🤦‍♂️

Well done to her parents. Lovely confident girl

I was crying, literally, for joy for this young lady! May she enjoy many hours flying the skys!

Congratulations Natalie well done loved that emotion when wheels touched down awesome effort for 16 years old 😊😊😊

When the majority of 16 year olds can't seem to grasp the concept of a speed limit or a parking stall.. you have this young lady, exhibiting common sense, skill, and maturity. Love it.

I was in tears the whole circuit - so very proud of this young lady (spirit). Just WOW!! Only 16. Amazing human being. I remember my first solo and everybody around me saying I was crazy to try something like this. It's been 25+ super adventurous years, now. I wouldn't change a thing - fly on, little lady!

I swear every time they land their first solo flight it puts a massive grin on my face. Joy by proximity lol

Wow, I got a tear in my eye when this 16-year young woman taxied to the Runway. it is always such a high risk to fly, especially when you are alone. Well done young woman, you can challenge anything and possess nearly steel nerves. 🛩

"OMG" I would think that most soloist are surprise how quickly you lift off when you don't have the weight of the instructor on boards. When solo-ing at age 16, land on RW 16. Way to go Natalie!

Her reaction at being in the air the first time by herself - priceless, unforgettable. I soloed 45 years ago. You never forget.

Bless her. Love the joy she has flying. Thank you for sharing.

This video moved and made me cry, it's so beautiful to imagine it was her first solo flight. Congratulations !!!

A bucket of lemons couldn't wipe the smile off your face, or mine.

I am by far older than 16, but to learn to fly is still on my bucket list. Congrats for a wonderful first solo flight!...

Congratulations Natalie! I’m happy you shared this video because I’m starting flight school next year and this is making me even more excited to fly🥹

We need more brave youth taking a step to the sky like her

Not sure who had a bigger smile on their face - this wonderful young lady or me after seeing that touch and go. Incredible pilot

My heart was pounding watching her fly. She's amazing!

A pilot at 16? What am I doing with my life? Well done Natalie, it looks like you’re doing a great job at perusing what you love, keep it up and you’ll do well inspiring others as you are.

Best thing I’ve watched on YT in years. Thanks!

Sweet 16 on runway........16

Having gained my PPL in my early 20's (now 50) i can remember my 1st solo like it was yesterday. The milestone this pilot has achieved cannot be underestimated and the joy on her face is beautifully raw. Well done ma'am.

Her smile is infectious!

Natalie you landed that like a butterfly with sore feet! Well done. May your sky be blue and your wind calm.

I love that these kids, and young ladies, are doing so much with themselves. I believe there's no limit on achieving something. Just wish I believed I could do this too. Congrats to her! Shes got the skies as her only boundary!!! LOL and I love how she says OKAY all the time! Brilliant young woman! Love this! Thanks for sharing.

She be 16 and solo-flying a plane, me being 20 and still curious how the oven works

Congratulations to Natalie and to Mr. Saslow and/or his teachers. Teaching people to fly and learning to fly as a student are amazing accomplishments. Best wishes to all involved from Germany.

That girl's gonna have THE coolest graduation and yearbook

outstanding Girl I'm 72 and I can still remember my 1st solo you nailed the landings, what a high you got when you got back down and out of plane, Congrats again!!!!

Someone told me this is the best moment of the entire pilot's career.

I love how she enjoyed landing "right on the marks" in her touch-and-go.

Congratulations young lady! My son just did his solo last year. He is twice your age but has been busy with his medical training.

Just found this video out of the blue... the pure nervous joy of the pilot is awesome! The reaction on the touch and go was great! Thank you for sharing what I am sure is a major life dream with the world!

I did my first solo four years ago in a 162 Skycatcher. Love that airplane. Great to see another solo in one. Way to go Natalie!

Now that was impressive. This is going to inspire a lot of young people and especially young women! I didn’t know you could fly a plane solo at such a young age! The amount of responsibility must feel insane !!

Love it! I remember my first solo in a Cessna 152 . 757 sierra echo clear for takeoff.. Proud of this little girl.

Congratulations

That reaction to her extremely smooth landing... "shut up". LOL What an awesome young lady. Good job.

I hope you’ll remember that day for the rest of your life. I still remember mine. Although I’ve had many flights since, no day stands out like your solo day. God bless you with safe flights and always happy experiences!

Congratulations ! You did it ! And you did it very well ! I had my first solo in... 1991, aged 21 ! On C-150, en Belgium. It is always so emotional to see a first solo flight ! Good luck with the sky ! Enjoy !😉😊

I can't even drive a car being 17 and this girl being 16 flies a whole plane...SOLO...

What a gorgeous day for a first solo! Visibility as far as the eye can see. Congrats!

Way to go Natalie, I got to relive my first solo flight back in 1973, great landing.

You Go girl! Felt tingles on my back when you took off again! Great work!!!

Amazing video. Congratulations on your solo, it's the most memorable moment in every pilot career. Cheers from Italy

Well done from 🇬🇧, I was 17 doing my first solo and now many thousands of hours later flying cargo and passengers the time really does fly by, you flew well 👍🏽

What a nice gift for her! She looks all the time really happy thats awesome!

Im almost 32 and finally in a place where I’m currently working towards my first solo,seeing you accomplish it at 16 is so amazing :)

GO NATALIE GO NATALIE THATS MY BEST FRIENDDDD

Congratulations Natalie - wonderful first solo. Like so many others here, this brought back memories of my first solo at Ford Island in Pearl Harbor back in '76 and tears of excitement for you. You'll remember this flight for the rest of your life. Stay safe Natalie and happy flying.

Fabulous Natalie! Beautifully done. All the best to you in your flying career!

that instant confidence after the very first touch down, I remember that feeling!!!!! good job kid!!

I love how she's all serious voice when she's talking to the tower, when she's off Mike she's all squee.

Solo'ed years ago... brought tears to my eye to see this... Her enthusiasm is infectious!!

I didn't even have a driver's license at 16. Just amazing what some kids accomplish along with all the incredible responsibility.

My 16 yr old forgets to wear pants. I can't imagine him in a plane

Excellent job! And Renton is such a cool airport. I remember my first solo, in a sailplane, like it was yesterday, even though it was eons ago (1978) at the age of 15. I also remember that moment when you look at the other seat and realize that for the first time there’s no instructor there and you are truly on your own. Pretty quickly though, your nervousness turns to excitement. I chuckled when I saw Natalie go through that same progression of emotions, like we all do on that day. Great job Natalie, congratulations!

Bravo! I felt like I was flying with her every bit of the way. Wonderful job!

I’m a helicopter student pilot, but I can tell you I had the same big smile when I did my first solo. Especially when I did my cross country solo.

I absolutely loved this. I couldn’t get enough of the honest excitement. This made me smile and cry.

The most intimidating thing about flying to me, would be talking with and understanding the atc

Congratulations Natalie. You are blessed to have this flight. I wish I were as lucky.

Enjoyed the video. I soloed an airplane in 1981, a helicopter in 1983. Your video brought me back there. Thank you.

Natalie, watching took me back three years almost to the day when I soloed---the fear, the anticipation, and the broad smile and giggle when you greased that landing. One big difference: our ages. I was 74. Pleasure to watch!

What an absolutely delightful video. Her excitement and slight apprehension is evident, and yet she's clearly very much in charge of herself and her aircraft. Congratulations and happy belated birthday!

Maravilhosaaaaaaa!!!!! FELICIDADES.... coragem, bravura, talento, disciplina!!!!!! Isso ai jovens brilhantes assim o mundo vale a pena!!!!!

Love it. My daughter is 10 years old, and her grandfather is a Marine fighter pilot and commercial airline captain. He said he's paying for her flight school if she's not a bum like her Dad! Lol. I hope she chooses this amazing career path. Congrats, Natalie!

Congrats. Savor the moment. It will always bring that smile and feeling back when you tell family and friends about your solo.

I remember when my instructor got out and said, "Go for it." (Or something like that - It was 50+ years ago...) I remember marveling at the increased rate of climb. I had imagined how much freedom I would feel flying solo, but was quite surprised as it was like he was there still in the plane!

Cant even imagine this feeling. What a courageous person! Bravo Bravo

Great job! Congratulations! Thanks for taking us along, it was fun to watch. I have no recollection of my first solo (nearly 40 years ago), so I enjoyed sharing the experience with you. (Sort of)

Still exciting to see. When I soloed my first thought after liftoff was, "Wow, now I have to land this thing."

Love the Joy you felt on your 16th... I felt every moment of what you lived on my 16th... WELCOME to a VERY select club.. You brought tears to my eyes in memory.. What a gorgeous human being..

The best moment in anybody's life...

Me at 16 was flying the paper airplane...beside Natalie's skill, I admire her courage, because things like this you don't only prepared to fly but to die as well... congrats Natalie... from the Philippines...

Young folks with goals and motivation, good to see, congratulations!