A HEREFORDSHIRE teenager who became the youngest pilot in the UK has received a letter from one of the richest people in the country.
Milo Gwilliam-Baulch, who lives near Kington, picked up his licence on his 17th birthday.
And he recently received a letter from business magnate, Sir Richard Branson, congratulating him on the achievement.
"Receiving the note from such a well-known entrepreneur and airline CEO, was a surreal feeling," said Milo.
"It took me a few minutes to realise that it was actually for me. I certainly had to read the email a few times to believe it.
"For me, it was quite surreal the fact that news about me could travel as far as to his desk. I am very thankful for the support from everyone around me again, and there has been a really positive reaction and lots of support from everyone."
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The Hereford Sixth Form College student started flying from the age of nine, with his first lesson being in Shobdon.
"I began my lessons at 14 when you can start logging them. This was my first real flying lesson and was a birthday gift from my Grandad," said Milo.
"I met my instructor Ryan Knowles, and then started flying from Wolverhampton Halfpenny Green Airport with Aerohire Flight Training.
"I work on the Flight Operations team at Aerohire on a Sunday at Wolverhampton Airport, and I was adamant to do my solo on my 16th birthday.
"It was the first legal time I did on a powered single-engine aircraft. I joined a very small number of people to go solo on their 16th."
Milo flies a single engine piston aircraft at Aerohire Flight Training.
"I completed my pilot's licence skills test at the age of 16 too, and then made a special request with the UK Civil Aviation Authority to collect my licence on my 17th birthday as it cannot be issued before that," added Milo.
The teenager received his pilot licence when he turned 17 last October.
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