Mustang Solo! - Sport Aviation, Dec 1979

WITH ALL THE aviation records that have been set down through the years plus the "firsts" claimed for every conceivable thing relating to airplanes and flying one can imagine, it becomes increasingly difficult to get one's name in the record books. 16 year old Dirk Leeward of Ocala, Florida has managed to find a way, however ... he made his initial solo in an unlimited racer — a souped up, clipwing P-51 Mustang!

Dirk, who serves as crew chief for his father, Jimmy Leeward, at Reno, Homestead and wherever else the Cloud Dancer appears, has been flying since he was 5 weeks old — his first ride was in a DC-3. His father had him taking the controls at 3 and by the time he was 10 could fly instruments with ease — he had to, because he couldn't see over the panel! By age 12, Dirk was flying take-off to touch down in King Airs, Navajoes, etc. and by 14 was fully qualified in instrument flying ... except, of course, for having a license. Also at 14, he worked on his own in ground school and passed his Private written. More recently he has passed his commercial and instrument writtens but has to wait until he is old enough to take the flight tests.

The big day for solo came on Sunday, September 2, 1979. After church, the Leeward family drove to the Ocala Municipal Airport and pulled out their sport aircraft — a J-3, T-6 and the 51. They were joined by the Denny Sherman family, close friends from North Palm Beach who brought their beautiful Stearman up for the occasion. Without ceremony, Dirk calmly strapped in, fired up the Merlin, listened to his father's rather nervous last minute instructions, taxied out and took off. Not only did he do a beautiful job with the airplane, he also made two screaming passes just to show ol' dad that he doesn't plan to be a crew chief FOREVER!

After a grease job landing in the 51, Dirk wasted little time switching to the T-6 for his second solo . . . and still later to the J-3. And after watching his performance in these aircraft, Denny Sherman decided he might as well add the Stearman to his list. Dirk was given two touch and goes and was sent off solo in the stiff-legged ol' biplane.

After Dirk endured the traditional snipping of his shirt tail, the Leewards and Shermans drove to the Leeward home for lunch and an appropriate celebration . . . after which they returned to the airport and spent the afternoon flying all the airplanes!

Dirk Leeward (EAA 114957) is a senior at Forest High in Ocala, Florida. He is a member of the National Honor Society and is president of the Key Club . . . just to prove that his head is not in the clouds ALL the time. His father considers him an excellent mechanic and depends on him to keep the Mustang in top racing tune. Dirk, incidentally, was maintaining a family tradition of sorts with his unusual first solo — Jimmy made his first flight at age 16 in a Bamboo Bomber.