Hillcrest teen takes flight to become a pilot
Former Curro HCA learner, Dylan Gardener is leaving South Africa to become a pilot in the Royal Air Force following in his great grandfather's footsteps.
FLYING a plane for the first time gave Hillcrest teen, Dylan Gardener, a sense of joy and a good feeling which he said he cannot really explain.
“It was love at first sight,” he said.
Dylan’s great grandfather, F/Lt John Phillips flew for the Royal Air Force in the Second World War.
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When Dylan came back from flying a plane for the first time, his dad, Dave, showed him medals which were awarded to his great grandfather during WW2, that included a distinguished flying cross.
“The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force for valour or courage while flying in active operations against the enemy,” explained Dave.
This inspired Dylan to complete his medical certification and 12 flying hours towards his private pilot’s license.
He will leave South Africa on an ancestral visa to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot in the Royal Air Force on Tuesday, 28 May.
In June last year, he ‘co-piloted’ a three-day trip from Durban to Johannesburg, Johannesburg across to Upington, returning from Upington to Springbok, to Jhb and back to Durban.
Dylan attended Curro Hillcrest Christian Academy from Grade RR and finished his final year in 2018.
The highlights of his academic achievements were winning the EGD subject award, two distinctions and an award for leadership for his contribution as deputy head boy.
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His sporting achievements at Curro included Rugby ‘Players Player of the Year’, the ‘Best Forward’ at the Trevaton Rugby Festival, being selected for the KZN Curro 7’s Team.”I will still play rugby as for quite some time my dream was to become a professional player, I did not see myself doing anything else,” said Dylan.
Dylan was also selected to represent the Sharks U18 Youth Club Rugby to play in the Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT) in Durban during October.
They won the U18 Interprovincial Tour Trophy. “This win is a massive accolade influencing my rugby career in London,” he said.
At the Collegians Rugby Prize Giving, Dylan received the Chairman’s Award for his contribution to Collegians Rugby, his gentlemanly conduct both on and off the field this year.
His dad said his son is level-headed and has a good level of steadiness and he knows that he will definitely make a mark in the Royal Air Force.
“Dylan makes a contribution wherever he goes and will be sorely missed by all those who know him. These include his school friends, the Youth at City Hill Church, on the collegians and villages rugby fields, the karate friends he accumulated over the years, and more importantly his family and close friends.
“Go in peace and God’s grace Dylan. We are going to miss you and will be comforted in the knowledge that you are following your dream,” he said.
Dylan added that leaving his friends and family will be hard.
“I have lots of mixed emotions more especially because I am a homeboy, I am very close to my friends and family but knowing that I’m on a journey to pursue and achieve my dream makes me feel at ease,” he said.
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