8-year-old Salinas boy nears solo flight after two years of training

An 8-year-old from Salinas is within reach of his first solo flight after logging more than 10 hours in the cockpit — a milestone most student pilots don't approach until after 40 to 60 hours of instruction.

Maverick Foletta's rapid progress — reaching near-solo readiness in far fewer hours than the 40 to 60 typically required — has drawn attention to the potential of early aviation training and the role family involvement can play in igniting a lifelong passion.

Maverick Foletta began flying two years ago when his father, Michael Foletta, introduced him to lessons. Since then, the boy has accumulated more than 10 hours in the cockpit under the guidance of instructor Enoch Weichers, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

For most student pilots, a first solo flight requires 40 to 60 hours of training. Weichers said Maverick is on track to clear that bar in a fraction of the time.

"If Maverick could, he'd probably be ready to solo pretty soon, maybe in the next couple of flight lessons," Weichers told KSBW. He credited the boy's mindset for the fast progress. "Kids really tend to learn really quickly because they don't have any preconceived notions of how to do things. He's very humble and a very quick learner," Weichers said.

Maverick said managing the cockpit demands constant focus. "You have all your instruments, and you have to look outside mostly," he told KSBW.

When asked what drives him, the second-grader pointed to a movie icon. "It's because I want to be like Top Gun Maverick," he said. His father described the shared experience in the sky as deeply personal. "It's always my dream to fly with Maverick, and that was like, a dream come true," Michael Foletta said.

Maverick continues training with both his father and instructor Weichers, building hours one flight at a time toward the day he can take the controls alone.