Pilot, 10, Lands in Record Book on Return to Burbank

Ten-year-old Christopher Lee Marshall landed in aviation record books Thursday afternoon as the youngest pilot to fly across the United States and back when he guided his single-engine Piper Warrior through foggy skies to the ground at Burbank Airport.

The tired fourth-grader from Oceano, Calif., waved a teddy bear as he climbed out of the cockpit and was greeted with hugs from his grandparents and friends. Christopher was accompanied on the flight by his instructor, Rowe Yates.

Christopher’s mother, an Oceano housewife, and father, a Delta Air Lines pilot, plan to meet their red-haired son Sunday afternoon in Oceano when he is scheduled to officially complete his 5,200-mile journey.

“I can’t believe I made it all the way back,” said Christopher, who was born with severe club feet that required several operations. “This is like a dream come true.”

The flight began July 18 when Christopher and Yates took off from Oceano near San Luis Obispo. The first half of the 26-day trip ended four days later in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

By that time, Christopher had already broken the record of 11-year-old Texas pilot John Kevin Hill, who inspired his adventure. Seven weeks ago, John flew with his instructor in a Cessna 210 from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C.