Editor's note: Este artículo está traducido al español.

Talon Newsom was just 15 when, guided by a professional instructor, he first took the controls of an airplane.

Now 19, the Moapa Valley teen has earned his certification to fly small aircraft solo — becoming the first pilot to achieve this milestone through a growing youth aviation program in rural Clark County.

Newsom is qualified to fly single-engine planes under 6,000 pounds with tricycle landing gear. He is now working on earning his instrument rating, which will allow him to fly in trickier, adverse weather conditions.

“It’s a different kind of experience being in control of the plane yourself,” said Newsom, who passed his exam to be a private pilot and took his first solo flight in May. “Even as a passenger, it’s just great,

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