Seven-year-old Uganda boy's aviation knowledge leaves several awestruck

 | Updated: Dec 24, 2020, 09:39 PM IST

A seven-year-old Ugandan boy's knowledge about aeroplanes and encouraging flying skills are surprising many people and have made him a sensation. 

Graham Shema, who has also been invited by Germany's ambassador and nation's transport minister, is being described as "Captain" on social media.

Let's take a look at this journey.  

Graham Shema

The Ugandan 'Captain' loves to study math and science and considers Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk as his idol. 

"I like Elon Musk because I want to learn with him about space, to go with him in space and also to get a handshake," Shema was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters. 
 

(Photograph:Reuters)

Graham Shema

As a trainee pilot, the Ugandan sensation has flown Cessna 172 three times between January and March before the pandemic stopped his practice. 
 

(Photograph:Reuters)

Graham Shema

Shema's instructor one day asked him to explain at Uganda's Entebbe International Airport how a Bombardier CRJ9000's engine worked. 

The instructor was awestruck when the seven-year-old said: "The inlet tubes suck in the air and inject it into the compressor, the compressor squeezes it with the fans, after squeezing it with the fans, it becomes hot." 
 

(Photograph:Reuters)

Graham Shema

When Shema was just three and was playing outside, a police helicopter flew so low that it stripped the roof of his grandmother's home on the outskirts of the Ugandan capital Kampala 

"It triggered something in his mind," said his mother Shamim Mwanaisha, a 29-year-old travel agent. She added that the incident led to Shema asking the questions about the working of planes continually. 
 

(Photograph:Reuters)
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Graham Shema

Mwanaisha last year contacted a local aviation academy where Shema started receiving his aviation lessons. 

Since then, the small wonder is focussing on aviation theory and religiously watching videos about aviation and space exploration. 

(Photograph:Reuters)