Sky Walker: Westwood sophomore flies solo

On the day after his 16th birthday, against the backdrop of a dusky pink sky, Matt Hurley coolly executed his first solo flight at Norwood Memorial Airport Friday. It was a daunting task, but Hurley had been preparing for this moment half his life.

Since he began flying at age 8, the Westwood High School sophomore had gone up in the air with instructors three dozen times.

"I've been ready for this for a long time," he said.

A greater worry was the weather, as Hurley is not allowed to fly when the wind speed reaches 8 knots, or about 10 mph. Sure enough, his first scheduled solo attempt on Thursday was scrapped because of high winds and stone-cold temperatures.

With a group of well-wishers watching - including his parents, family friends and high school buddies - Hurley tried again Friday. Among those at the Horizon Aviation terminal was Larry Gelb, 64, of Brookline, who took his first solo flight 48 years ago.

"It was just the most exhilarating moment in my life to get up there and fly by yourself," he recalled. "I was so excited, I totaled my mother's car on my way home."

Hurley's mom, Cheryl, was nervous beforehand.

"It's like watching them walk to school for the first time alone," she said. "You worry a little bit, but you're proud of them."

His dad, Steve, was more philosophical.

"These are the things that build them as people. It's a building experience," he said.

At 4:04 p.m., Hurley and his instructor rolled out for the first of two prep flights in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, a 4-passenger plane with dual controls. (This particular model, with green and black stripes on a white background, is Hurley's favorite.)

After they returned, the Westwood teen got back in the plane, alone, at 4:44. There was little wind. At 4:49, he rolled down the tarmac and successfully made a right turn.

"He's done well so far," his dad joked.

At 4:57 Hurley was cleared for takeoff, and away he went. He did a pattern - a lap around the airport - before landing smoothly at 5:02.

"He got it down," said Steve.

"I can breathe again," said Cheryl.

But her son wasn't done: he took off twice more, flying each time for five minutes, before touching down for good at 5:20.

"Congratulations. Nice job," said a voice from the control tower.

Matt Hurley said he was "really excited and nervous when my instructor was in the plane."

"I shut the plane off, got it going again. Just figuring that out was the biggest part for me, for some reason," he said. "And from there it was what I always do. I went out. No one next to me - it felt strange - but I just went off. It was a gorgeous day - it was a beautiful sunset up there, Boston and everything."

Hurley showed an enthusiasm for aviation almost from his earliest days. Instead of, for example, playing with toy cars as a young kid, he took an interest in toy planes.

His mom and dad noticed that.

Hurley began flying after his parents got him his first lesson for his 8th birthday. That tradition continued until age 13, when he started flying every couple of months. He has taken wing even more frequently lately to get ready for his solo.

Flying is something you fall in love with, he said, the one thing he has a passion for.

He is also a disc jockey (he started his own company, Muzicology), plays on the lacrosse team, and does volunteer ski patrol Friday nights at Blue Hills.

Aspiring aviators need to have a student pilot certificate in hand and turn 16 before attempting a solo. In 2007, only 178 students nationwide in the 14-15 age group had that certificate, said Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association spokesman Chris Dancy.

"It is quite rare. It's a significant accomplishment," he said of Hurley's feat.

When he turns 17, Hurley can get his private pilot's license, allowing him to carry passengers.

He definitely wants to work in aviation, perhaps as an air traffic controller or a corporate pilot.

Improbably, "I'm afraid of heights - tall buildings, and roller coasters - I'm not a roller coaster guy," Hurley said. "But flying, I don't know, I feel safe."

Daily News staff writer Edward B. Colby can be reached at 781-433-8336 or ecolby@cnc.com.