EDEN PRAIRIE, MINN. – Nathan “Nate” Bruss, 16, of Dayton, Minnesota, successfully soloed 10 airplanes on his 16th birthday, August 16, 2013, making him the only person in history known to have achieved such a feat in tricycle gear aircraft.
Bruss, who has flown with his father since he was two years old, first soloed in a Cessna 152, performing three full stop landings beginning at 8:00 am CDT at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. He then transferred to a second Cessna 152, a Cessna 162 Skycatcher, four Cessna 172s, two Piper PA-28-161 Warriors, and a fifth Cessna 172, completing his feat at 5:15 pm. Upon landing the tenth airplane, Bruss was surrounded by fellow pilots, friends, family, photographers, and his father and flight instructor, Steve Bruss, to record the moment for entry into the “Guinness Book of World Records.”
When asked why he made the attempt, Bruss said he hopes it will inspire other young people to become involved in aviation, and achieve their goals and dreams through hard work and perseverance.
Bruss finished the day with a ride in a Beechcraft T-34 Mentor and made a victory pass over the airport with the aircraft’s smoke system on. Cake and hardy congratulations followed.
To qualify to fly solo, Bruss flew each airplane several times in the weeks leading up to the attempt. Prior to Bruss’ attempt, there was not a category for tri-cycle gear aircraft records in the Guinness Book of World Records. Bruss is now awaiting final acceptance of his feat by Guinness officials.
Wings Insurance, which is headquartered at Flying Cloud Airport, sponsored the solo flight attempt. Steve Bruss is president of the company (www.wingsinsurance.com).
