The oldest active pilot?
Pilot|June 2020
Instrumental in the growth of general aviation in Spain, Laureano Ruiz Liaño is a living piece of European aviation heritage
Biel Gomila
The oldest active pilot?

He has over 23,000 hours in his logbook, of which 130 were flown in the last fifteen months. Not that incredible for an aviation professional, you may think, but with a curent PPL and class two medical at 96, Laureano Ruiz Liaño is probably the world's oldest active pilot.

Laureano was born on 15 June 1924 in Santander (northern Spain). A wonderful chap full of knowledge and information, he got the aviation bug while growing up in northern Spain. Back then a famous pioneer pilot called Pombo was flying in the area, and the aeroplanes started drawing the attention of the little boy. So, he got into aviation as soon as he could−keep in mind that Spain is not a particularly aviation-oriented country, and it wasn’t easy to fly just after the Civil War.

But on 16 September 1943, the nineteen-year-old boy won his gliding ‘A’ certificate at the flight school of Colomba de Somoza, in the Spanish region of Leon. After that he started flying at the wonderful glider site of Monflorite in Huesca, just by the foot of the western Pyrenees. It was there that the young Laureano got his additional glider licences: a class B certificate, then a class C on 19 July 1944 and, three days later, his Silver C with a flight of over five hours. All of that in less than a year! Then, in June 1946 he received his first-class glider navigation permit and in the following two weeks he flew 32 hours, several flights lasting between five and eight hours.

From then on he started to play an increasing role in the growth of Spanish general aviation. In 1948 he co-founded the Santander Aero Club and, with the help of three French friends, brought to Spain the plans to build an Autoplan, which he eventually completed in 1952− the aircraft being a Pou du Ciel (Flying Flea) lookalike.

Denne historien er fra June 2020-utgaven av Pilot.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra June 2020-utgaven av Pilot.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA PILOTSe alt
Hybrid-Electric ‘Hawaii Bird' Makes First Flight
Pilot

Hybrid-Electric ‘Hawaii Bird' Makes First Flight

Electric aviation company Ampaire flew its second technology demonstrator on 10 September. The aircraft is a refined version of its Cessna 337 ‘Electric EEL’ hybrid-electric power conversion.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2020
Rare Rearwin
Pilot

Rare Rearwin

Made in tiny numbers by Piper and Aeronca standards, the beautifully-engineered Rearwin Skyranger proves to be a delight waiting to be discovered

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2020
Dr Hill's new helicopter
Pilot

Dr Hill's new helicopter

You’ve seen pictures of concept helicopters before, and most of them never rose from the paper… but this one has a better chance than most of flying in the real world. It’s the Hill HX50, and the designer describes it as a ‘disruptive’ entry into the small helicopter market, offering a step-change for the better in safety, performance, comfort and elegance.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2020
Make mine a turbine!
Pilot

Make mine a turbine!

To say aviation and turbines is a happy marriage is true−albeit mainly in the airline, business aircraft and helicopter world. Light aviation, especially the ultralight segment, remains essentially a turbine free field−apart from noble exceptions, in the form of single-engine jets and ‘experimentals’.

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2020
Industry experts say...
Pilot

Industry experts say...

Representatives from a selection of Approved Training Organisations look forward to the future of Commercial Air Travel and prospects for professional pilots after the pandemic

time-read
10 mins  |
November 2020
Flight training
Pilot

Flight training

News from the clubs, schools & ATOs

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2020
First airline job
Pilot

First airline job

... won and lost after just eighteen months in the right-hand seat. Reflections on the rewards of the hardest work in a lifetime

time-read
9 mins  |
November 2020
Safety Matters
Pilot

Safety Matters

Safety Matters and Safety Briefs are based on the AAIB Bulletin and UK Airprox Board reports, with additional material from the US National Transportation Safety Board.

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2020
Donegal wins ‘most beautiful airport' - again!
Pilot

Donegal wins ‘most beautiful airport' - again!

Donegal in Ireland has been named as the ‘world’s most beautiful airport 2020’ – for the third successive year – in a major vote by more than six thousand ‘flying fans’. The award is given as part of the annual Scenic Airports poll conducted by private jet booking service PrivateFly.

time-read
1 min  |
November 2020
Come to Sweden!
Pilot

Come to Sweden!

A French pilot retires to Sweden, where he enjoys great weather, blissful flights and barbecues – and invites British flyers visit this GA-friendly country

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2020