A Virginia Record?

Girl Here Sprouts Wings at 16

By James Elliott

A Richmond girl has taken up with a flying machine - and together they've made what is believed to be some sort of history in aviation in Virginia.   

The girl is 16-year old Mildred Millhiser, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Millhiser, II, of 4209 Patterson Avenue. At her young age, she can fly a plane - and fly it alone.

The blue-eyed Thomas Jefferson High School junior made her solo flight at Northfield Airport recently just as she turned 16 years. And as far as anyone around here knows, she is probably the youngest girl to fly solo in Virginia in a number of years.  

Hamilton B. Cowin, Civil Aeronautics Administration safety agent here, said he could recall no girl getting her student license at that age since he came here in 1946. He said several boys had accomplished the feat, however.

Long Interest

"Millie," as she prefers to be called, said her interest in aviation goes back to when she was just a little tot. "I've just always wanted to fly," she explained.   

Oddly enough her opportunity to learn to fly came through her ability to write. In last year's Virginia Aviation Jubilee, she entered an essay contest on "The High School's Role in Aviation Education." The prize was a course in flying, offered by E. D. Bailey, operator at Northfield Airport.   

She won.  But at the time she was only 15 years old and one year shy of the required age to solo. As a start, she took about four hours of lessons last Summer and rested through the Winter until this year.   

Nearing her sixteenth birthday she started again.  With a little more than six additional hours of instruction, "Millie" was allowed to go alone.   

"I was sort of lonesome up there ... and nervous," she said as she recounted her first flight.  "But it felt wonderful."   

The 5-foot, 6 1/2 inch tall girl said her parents have accepted her flying "beautifully," although her mother still has a few fears.   

Both her parents have flown a lot, although neither has piloted a plane. She hopes to calm any fears they have very shortly, however.   

As soon as she gets enough flying time to get her license to carry passengers, the first ones she will take up are a proud mother and father who perhaps see something of an Amelia Earhart in their offspring.