A FEARLESS York schoolboy has become one of the youngest ever qualified glider pilots in the UK, after taking to the skies just days after his 14th birthday.

Owen Glew headed skyward on his own for the first time on Friday, just two days after his birthday, and now shares the title of youngest ever glider pilot with one other British youngster.

Owen, a Fulford School pupil who lives in Naburn with dad Alan and grandad Tony. On Friday flying instructors at York Gliding Centre, Rufforth decided he was good enough to fly a glider by himself.

Owen said it felt "pretty good" to pass the test, after a year of preparing and learning the basics of flying at the Rufforth centre - which opened especially on the day to make sure Owen could achieve his dream and fly solo.

He added: "I didn't really feel nervous flying on my own, but it did kick in that there was no one else up there with me when I couldn't feel anyone else on the controls.

"I went up to 1500 feet with an aerotow, did a circuit above York and landed, and then the instructor said he was happy for me to go solo so I went up to 1500 feet again and floated down."

"Daredevil Owen" has always been fearless, his family said, and the 14 year old said he "just doesn't get scared."

Tony added: "Owen's a very adventurous little boy. We all go SCUBA diving, and when he was six Owen wanted to start. But the instructors said you need to be eight to start, so on his eighth birthday he was knocking on their door. He took his PADI open water qualification when he was only 10 years old and people normally take that an 16 or 18 years old.

"From when he was a young age he wanted to join the air cadets, but you have to be 13 to do that so on his 13th birthday he was knocking on their door."

His 13th birthday also saw Owen fly from York Gliding Club at Rufforth for the first time when Tony booked a surprise flying lesson as a birthday treat.

A year later, having the chance to fly solo is "a dream" for the youngster, Tony added.

And while there are no other pilots in the family, his relatives could not be more proud "Daredevil Owen".

"SCUBA diving and gliding are a lot of fun because they are at two extremes. When I'm flying with the cadets we do aerobatics like barrel rolls and spins, and I enjoy that too."