Ross Williams, of Llanteg, near Tenby, received both his driving and pilots licences less than two months after his birthday.
He spent 45 hours in the air flying a Cessna 150 and had to pass a medical exam, written tests and a flight test.
"I've wanted to fly ever since I can remember," he said.
"I could have stayed on in school, but I just knew what I wanted to do and that was to be able to live my dream."
Mr Williams funded his flying lessons using his wages from working at McDonalds and a local pub restaurant.
He said: "I was massively happy. It took quite a long time to sink in.
"I'm going to Arizona at the end of September staying with family friends, where I hope to do between 50 and 75 hours of flying.
"It's a lot cheaper to hire a plane there, around $100 an hour.
"Then hopefully I'll start doing my commercial written exams when I come home and build up some more flying hours."
His instructor Ryan Williams said: "To come through and gain a private pilot's licence in just 11 months is amazing.
"Passing his driving test as well is the icing on the cake."
A 17-year-old from Pembrokeshire has become one of Britain's youngest aeroplane pilots, just three days after passing his driving test.