A TEENAGER from Alloa will take to the skies this weekend as he fulfils a lifelong dream.

Evan Skelhorn has been fascinated by planes since he was able to walk and will this weekend partake in his first ever solo glide on his 14th birthday – the earliest opportunity he is legally allowed to do so.

From the age of just three, Evan began collecting model aeroplanes and watched films such as The Dambusters with his grandfather Jack.

This education helped forge the dream of one day being a pilot and the youngster has already enrolled in the RAF cadets.

Evan decided to take up gliding at the Scottish Gliding Centre in Portmoak where he is described as a “natural” by his instructor.

Having already been signed off as good enough to glide alone, he will do so the moment he turns 14, weather permitting.

His mum, Arlene, told the Advertiser that when Evan takes to the skies alone, not only will he be fulfilling a lifelong dream, but also breaking a record.

She said: “He has always wanted to fly planes and wants to be a pilot, but the only thing he can do at that age is gliding. He has always been obsessed with anything to do with flying.

“For about the last six months he has been on at us saying that he wants to be the youngest glider pilot around, which obviously would need to be done on his 14th birthday.”

Should the rain stay away, Evan will make his ground-breaking flight on Saturday, September 1 which would be enough for him to become the youngest ever solo glider from his club – although his family and instructors are unsure if it there is anyone younger to complete the feat in Scotland or further afield.

Arlene admits that while everyone is proud of him, she’ll be desperate for him to just get back on to land.

She continued: “We are all dead proud of him that he knows exactly what he wants to do, because most kids his age don’t have a clue what they want.

“I will be like a bag of nerves on the day and will feel a little bit sick until he comes back down. But we are all so proud of him.”