FAA’s Education Ambassador: Jamail Larkins
The below is taken from Larkins’ website:
Jamail Larkins started flying at age 12.
Jamail Larkins performed his first airshow season in 2003. At the age of 12, Jamail flew
his first flight with the EAA Young Eagles Program. Shortly after, at age 14 he became one of the youngest American pilots when he soloed a powered aircraft in Canada.
On January 17, 2000 he became the National Spokesman of the EAA Vision of Eagles Program, a youth education initiative of the EAA Aviation Foundation. The program encompasses all the Foundation’s education programs, including Young Eagles, EAA Air Academy and the Science-Math-Technology Program. As National Spokesman, Jamail represented EAA and the Vision of Eagles Program and promoted the possibilities available to aviation enthusiasts, young and old alike.
January 31, 2000, the day after his 16th birthday he soloed in the United States in a Cirrus SR20, becoming the first and youngest student pilot to solo in this revolutionary certified single-engine aircraft.
In 2002, Jamail agreed to become the National Spokesman for a second organization, Careers in Aviation, a non-profit organization that promotes and provides aviation opportunities to young people.
Jamail has accumulated more than 480 hours of total flight time in more than 33 different types of aircraft. He makes appearances at airshows, has hosted radio shows at conventions and other events, and writes columns for aviation publications. He has been the guest speaker for fundraising dinners alongside such notable figures as Chuck Yeager and Cliff Robertson.
He has also trained in several different kinds of airline simulators, including the Boeing 777, the Boeing 767, the Boeing 757, and the McDonnel Douglas Super MD-80.
During high school, Jamail was an honor student at Evans High School in Augusta, Georgia and received numerous awards for academic and overall achievement. He was a member of the track team, the student council, the Aerospace Club, Future Business Leaders of America, and earned his black belt in Taekwondo. He has been recognized as an Outstanding Young Eagle, an Outstanding Camper at Space Camp and received a Certificate of Appreciation from the U.S. Army Signal Center at Fort Gordon in 1996.
Jamail has participated on special projects with the Be-A-Pilot Program, Careers In Aviation, and the EAA Aviation Foundation. He is also an active member of the Young Eagles Program.
Jamail is active in the First Shiloh Baptist Church and in numerous groups in Augusta. He has spoken to the Timmins-Ontario Chamber of Commerce, NASA’s youth programs, the Tuskegee Airmen Reunion, and at several major Aviation Press Conferences.
Jamail lives in Daytona Beach, Fla., while attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. His parents, Sylvester and Renetha, live in Augusta, Ga.
