feature: 16-year-old isaiah cooper becomes youngest black pilot to fly over continental us

History has been made yet again: Early this week, Compton teen Isaiah Cooper became the youngest African American pilot to fly over the continental US. The 16-year-old touched down Monday after his 8,000 mile journey after roughly 2 weeks (13 days), and was in no mood to rest. Already planning his next endeavor: To be the youngest pilot ever to travel around the world. Prepping to leave at 18, many will attest that he is more than equipped. A young professional, Cooper encountered difficult weather towards the beginning of his trip, causing him to perform an emergency landing and switch planes:                                                                                                 “He was able to execute the emergency procedures flawlessly, got it on the road, landed, didn’t damage the houses, the schools, the construction crew, nothing. I mean, he got out of that thing safely,” said flight instructor Robin Petgrave.

Cooper not only set the record, he also set the possibility- serving as the face of inspiration for young Black boys everywhere. Congratulations to him, and we look forward to what he conquers next. Check him out below.

By Cree B. McClellan, AFROPUNK contributor

http://abc7.com/society/compton-teen-becomes-youngest-african-american-to-fly-over-us/1431630/