Meet New York’s youngest female pilot, who learned to fly a plane before she could drive a car
Originally published in
New York Post
on
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Kamora Freeland never had the desire to touch the sky.
The Staten Islander dreamed of exploring the ocean as a marine biologist as a little kid. But as fate — disguised as her mother, Lakema — would have it, the 17-year-old is now cruising the clouds at over 5,500 feet.
“I earned my pilot license before I got a driver’s license,” Kamora told The Post with a laugh.
The Gen Zer became the youngest pilot in New York State, and one of the youngest licensed aviators in US history on Feb. 26, allowing her to helm a single-engine plane with up to 12 passengers. She received her driving credentials the next day.
For her feat in flying, Kamora was granted a Proclamation of Achievement by Assemblyman Charles Fall and state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton at the Capitol in Albany on Monday.
The teen trailblazer told The Post she’s humbled by the honor.
“It’s amazing,” said Kamora, a graduating senior at Kingsborough Early College Secondary School in Bensonhurst. “I never wanted to be a pilot, but after my first flight, I was like, ‘Wow! I could do this for a living.’ ”