A teacher who turned student, was on cloud nine when he earned his wings.

Jason Smart, a year five teacher at Parkwood Primary School, Keighley, has been taking flying lessons since last summer. Now he has gained his private pilot's licence to gain his first rung on the flying ladder, enabling him to fly single engined planes.

He said: "I have always fancied flying since an early age, and last year decided it was the perfect time to learn."

Jason, pictured right, was a member of the Leeds Flying School, based at Leeds-Bradford Airport.

He passed his theory exams last summer, but found some of the aspects more difficult than he expected.

He said: "Once you are up in the air flying is actually quite easy. But the landing is particularly difficult, as is learning the correct language for the radio and navigation."

Jason now intends to carry on his lessons to gain more qualifications, first by converting to a four-seater plane.

Having first gone solo after 20 hours flying, he will now spend his first flights free of orders, growing accustomed to the new life of independence.

He said: "At first I want to get used to doing what I want.

"I have a friend who is into bungee-jumping and other daredevil things, so he will be my first passenger because he won't get scared at the slightest wind.

"After that my girlfriend and dad also want to go up."

As for his pupils, he said: "They know I have been doing it but I don't think they quite believe it."