An inspirational girl from North Devon - who became Britain's youngest solo glider pilot on her 14th birthday - tells of how she safely landed an airplane after an engine failure.

Since she was a young girl, Ellie Carter from Great Torrington has always had a fascination with maths, physics and the idea of flying.

From flying WW2 aircraft to landing on a beach for D-Day commemorations, 18-year old Ellie has achieved things that many of us can only dream of.

However, around four months ago Ellie said that she encountered one of the most challenging moments in her flying career when she had an engine failure mid flight.

Ellie said: ''There was a problem with the fuel system, we took off and I was climbing out and I noticed something didn't feel right.

''So I turned back to do a circuit land and about 500ft when I was down wind the engine had completely stopped.

''I had to make a landing. I wasn't scared, I am trained to do it.

''My instinct just kicked in and I knew what to do. ''

Since the age of around three-years old, Ellie says she has always been interested in flying.

Although her achievements are something the majority of us are in awe of, Ellie said that her journey there has not always been easy.

Throughout the years, Ellie said she had been subject to negative comments surrounding her passion, particularly as a female.

She said: ''My parents have always been very supportive of it. I think my mum was a bit scared to start with.

''My dad has been fantastic he wrote me two full length books on girls learning to fly all from different backgrounds to inspire me. They've gone above and beyond what they needed to do as parents.''

Ellie became Britain's youngest solo glider pilot on her 14th birthday

Delving into the past, Ellie said her journey really began to soar back when she was around eight or nine.

She said: ''When I was eight or nine I decided to write a letter to the pilots of the U-2 spy plane, which is a plane that kind of flies on the edge of space and is top secret.

''I asked them if they could send the letter to the Royal International Air tattoo which is an airshow, but being top secret that is a security risk.

''So the letter went to The Pentagon (The HQ of the United States' Department of Defence) and my parents almost got arrested, fortunately they were not.

''But in the end they realised that I was only like nine years old and they allowed me to go to RAF Fairford to see it and they then got me to my first flight by putting me in contact with a pilot from the UK.

''From then on I started flying with that pilot and it all kind of stemmed from there really.''

After accompanying the pilot for many flights, Ellie said he eventually moved to China.

She said: ''So I decided to take it upon myself to go up to the local airfield at the time and I would just hang around and would help clean planes in exchange for flights.

''I met a pilot up there who owns a 1943 pipercub which actually flew on D-Day.

''He took me for a flight and we got on well so we continued to keep flying. ''

At the age of 12, a pilot in the area suggested to Ellie that she should look into flying a glider plane.

''So I looked into it and then started gliding which is a very different form of flying.

Ellie Carter from North Devon

''On my 14th birthday I flew a glider plane solo, I was the youngest person to do that which is pretty cool.

''It was amazing. It wasn't scary at all, I loved it!

''I had received all the training and knew what to do if anything went wrong.

''Then on my 16th birthday - well three days after due to storm Diana - I did my first ever solo power fly.

''I collected my licence on my 17th birthday, which is the youngest age you can do that.

'''I have managed to fund most of my flying by myself, so I am very lucky.''

''I am about to start my aerobatic rating but unfortunately due to Covid it got pushed back.''

Ellie who is currently studying her A-levels says she isn't certain as to what she wants to pursue as her career however she is considering flying commercial aircraft or becoming a test pilot.

She said: '''It is quite dangerous but also an awesome job.''

Ellie also says that one of her goals is to be able to convince her brother to join her for a flight one day.

She said: ''I have flown my dad and he is very good. I have flown my mum, she finally flew with me after being terrified for years.

''My brother hasn't flown with me as he doesn't trust me... I am still working on that! ''

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