Caleb Smith, a Black teenager from Prince George’s County, Maryland, has become the youngest glider pilot in the United States. His record triumph comes after 23-year-old Malik Sinegal made history as the youngest African American to be certified as a Boeing 777 pilot last year.

Smith is currently a 10th grader at Charles H. Flowers High School in the city of Springdale and had his first experience with aviation at the age of 10 at Bowie Freeway Airport.

This experience sparked his interest and ambition in aviation. He spent time with a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and went on to receive one-on-one ground training and airtime. This eventually led him to receive a gliding school scholarship in May 2021.