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Lynchburg, VA -
She's not old enough to drive, but a 15-year-old California girl is piloting a plane across the country. She's on a 10 day mission to be the youngest female pilot to fly coast to coast and Friday she landed in the Hill City. But she says the mission isn't just about breaking records.
Kimberly Anyadike has a pretty nice set of wheels for a fifteen-year-old. Of course she's been flying since she was 12.
Kimberly Anyadike, 15-years-old - "I'm not even thinking about driving right now, because you can get further in a plane than you can in a car."
And this journey is taking her from her home in Los Angeles, all the way to the Newport News.
Anyadike - "You never really realize how beautiful our country is until you are flying over it and you see everything from up above."
Joan Foster, Mayor of Lynchburg - "I'm Joan Foster the Mayor of Lynchburg and I want to welcome you."
She'll be the youngest female pilot to make the trek. But her mission is to bring attention to the Tuskegee Airmen.
Anyadike - "I was really amazed by the history, because so much that they've been through and they have so much knowledge to share and they're such great mentors and I wanted to do something to try and unite them as a thank you."
And they are behind her all the way... literally. Levi Thornhill has been in the backseat for the journey. The Lynchburg native was a crew chief for the 302nd Fire Squad.
Levi Thornhill, Tuskegee Airman, Lynchburg Native - "I had the same eight guys in the tent together for two and a half years, we were like brothers."
For the last six years he's been inspiring kids like Kimberly.
Anyadike - "In some ways I'm living their legacy because they fought for so much so I think it's an honor to continue what they've done."
And just as the Airman broke down racial barriers more than fifty years ago... Kimberly is hoping to break barriers of her own.
Anyadike - "Sometimes since I'm a girl a lot of people underestimate me and I'm like watch me, I'm going to show you."
Thornhill - "So I knew that the girls if given the opportunity... fly to the moon."
Anyadike - "The sky is no longer the limit."
Kimberly's journey ends in Newport News, then it's back to California. In case something goes there is another pilot on board that can step in. And Kimberly isn't the only member of the family to hold a world record. Her older sister became the youngest female to fly solo four planes in one day.
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