DC Teen Becomes One Of The Youngest Licensed Black Pilots In US

17-year-old Christopher Ballinger is among the youngest Black pilots in the country thanks to an Air Force JROTC flight Academy Program.

Ballinger became a licensed pilot after completing the Air Force Junior ROTC Flight Academy Program in Washington D.C.

"I have had this interest for a while," Ballinger says. "This was something that was calling for me." The program included waking up at 5 a.m., a written and flying test and he put in 55 hours in the skies."I feel relieved that I actually did it" Ballinger explains.

Ballinger wants to eventually join the Air Force and fly military planes while exploring the world.