A Yavneh College pupil has become one of the youngest people in the UK to receive silver wings from the Royal Air Force.

Scott Michaels, 16, qualified after the instructor on his gliding scholarship offered him a surprise solo flight opportunity for the first time earlier this month. He flew the plane for five miles at 800ft.

“I really wasn’t expecting it,” Scott said. “He just asked me if I’d like to circuit the base alone and told me to have fun — it’s the best feeling in the world. I can now pilot a plane alone, but I’ve never driven a car.

“There are 65 of us on the programme, but only two of us have scholarships,” he added. “The scholarship is incredibly hard to get but I think my enthusiasm and a lot of nagging helped.” Training took place the RAF base in Henlow, Bedfordshire.

Scott wants to study aeronautical engineering at university before joining the RAF or the IDF.