16-Year-Old Becomes Youngest Black Pilot to Fly Across Country

On July 18, 16-year-old Isaiah Cooper made history by becoming the youngest black pilot to fly around the country. Suggested Reading The Root 100 – 2021 The Root 100 – 2022 The Root 100 – 2023 Video will return here when scrolled back into view Stefon Diggs and Cardi B Viral Boat Video Prompts Response…

On July 18, 16-year-old Isaiah Cooper made history by becoming the youngest black pilot to fly around the country.

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Stefon Diggs and Cardi B Viral Boat Video Prompts Response from Patriots Coach

His journey was 8,000 miles, starting in California, then on to Washington state, Maine and Florida, before headingย back to the California city of Compton, according to the Huffington Post.

And this is just the beginning for Isaiah.ย On hisย GoFundMe page, he writes, "This epic journey gave me the experience necessary to achieve my ultimate goal to be the youngest person to fly soloย around the world at age 18."

The Post notes that despite his success, it wasn't an easy journey for him, and he almost gave up within the first coupleย of days. Heย called his flight instructor, Robin Petgrave, wanting to quit. He had experienced bad weather while flying throughย Wyoming and was forced to land and switch planes because of damage.

However, he completed the journey. On his GoFundMe, the inspiring teenย writes that his main goal is "to become a productive young man with a future in aviation, and not a statistic."

Read more at Isaiahโ€™s GoFundMe page and the Huffington Post.

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