At just 17, Tabitha Hignett adds her name to three generations of pilots, completing her first solo where her father, brother and grandfather once did.
Stewart Hignett, a pilot and former flight instructor, always hoped his daughter Tabitha would one day want to learn to fly. Never wanting to push her, he knew the decision had to come from her. When she turned 16 and expressed an interest, Stew booked a Trial Instructional Flight at Wings Out West with CFI Dan Compton. Dan had previously taught her older brother Ben, and Stew was confident his daughter would be in safe hands. From that first TIF it was clear she was hooked: the Cub responded beautifully under her control, and she beamed throughout the flight. Not before she and Dan played a mean little joke on Stew, pretending the experience had been awful and that she had no intention of continuing. The ruse did not fool him for long, and more lessons were promptly arranged.
One of her biggest motivations for learning to fly was knowing how much it would mean to her dad. “He never forced us,” she says, “but when he was unwell, I just wanted him to have something proud to hold on to.” Many of her favourite childhood memories are aviation related: flying with her dad, helping restore a DH82 Tiger Moth for the Narromine Aviation Museum, and being Ben’s first passenger after he gained his endorsement. Aviation runs deep in the family, and with that comes a certain level of expectation. Fortunately, those expectations have always been met with hard work, dedication and an unshakeably positive attitude. She gives 100% to everything she does.
Her first solo was an extraordinary and deeply meaningful milestone. Her grandfather, father and older brother had all completed their first solos at Narromine Airfield. On 14 January 2025, she added her name to that family legacy with a flawless solo at the very same location. Her family and the team at Wings Out West could not be prouder.
Now in Year 12, she is juggling flying with study. Although she works part time, receiving an Airservices Flying Scholarship through the RAAus Scholarship Program has allowed her to continue training without sacrificing crucial study time. The confidence and resilience gained from flying will serve her well through the demanding months ahead. After all, if you can fly a plane, you can do anything. At 17, she is still exploring her future options, but one thing is certain: aviation will always be part of her life.
The future of aviation is looking bright with young guns like 17 year old Tabitha Hignett on their way up!
