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<\/p>\nAs a young girl, Nelri Duvenage would jump down slopes with a blanket,
\ndreaming she could fly. Today, at just 18, that dream is practically a reality.
\nShe\u2019s only a few flips away from earning her private pilot\u2019s license.<\/p>\n
While most teens were stressing over their matric farewell outfits, Nelri Duvenage was busy navigating the skies. Literally. Studying for her PPL exams.<\/p>\n
But her journey to the cockpit didn\u2019t come easy. Between balancing her matric year, battling the most challenging PPL subject (Navigation, which she tackled during prelims), and racing against tight deadlines (she had to complete seven out of eight exams within 18 months or risk rewriting them all), Nelri had her work cut out for her. Add in a training delay due to an aircraft conversion – switching from the Ibis GS700 Magic to the Cessna 152 – and you\u2019ve got a recipe for resilience. Anyone in aviation will tell you that\u2019s no small feat!<\/p>\n
For Nelri, flying is pure freedom. That effortless feeling of gliding through the sky, fully in control, is what makes it all worthwhile. And right now, she\u2019s building up her solo hours, proving to herself (and the world) that she\u2019s got what it takes.<\/p>\n
But as any pilot will tell you, the weather can be a real wild card. Especially at Krugersdorp\u2019s Jack Taylor Airfield. \u2018The elevation valley and downward slopes mean frequent crosswinds and gusty conditions, making takeoffs and landings extra challenging\u2019.<\/p>\n
And speaking of landings … Nelri entered the 2023 Spot Landing Competition just for fun (to sharpen her landing skills) but ended up winning the Student Class. Not one to back down from a challenge, she entered again last year. And won again. Proof that flying has basically become like second nature to her.<\/p>\n
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One of her fave moments so far has to be flying with a friend to Lanseria in a Cherokee 6 for the Young Eagles Event, where she and other pilots took aspiring aviators for short flights around the aerodrome. Not only was it her first time flying and landing at Lanseria Airport, but she also got to witness massive Boeings up close. Today, as a member of the Young Aviators of South Africa, she\u2019s proud to be part of inspiring the next generation of pilots. Oh, and she also got to meet Scully Levin (one of South Africa\u2019s top pilots).<\/p>\n
Many assume she\u2019s too young to be a pilot, when in fact, you can start flying at 16. And no, it\u2019s not just about hopping into a plane. There are intense exams with high pass rates that most people don\u2019t realise.<\/p>\n
\u2018Bottom line \u2026 never let your wings be clipped. The road is long and hard, but it\u2019s so worth it. And girls … don\u2019t let your gender limit your dreams.\u2019<\/p>\n
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Nelri once flew in a Harvard with a pilot who took her through barrel rolls. Not exactly your average Sunday drive.<\/p>\n
While most 18-year-olds are figuring out their next steps, Nelri already has a big dream \u2026 becoming a captain at FlySafair and joining the small but growing number of female captains in the world. Her ultimate goal … flying the B737-800.<\/p>\n
When she\u2019s not flying, she might be showjumping with her horse, Bounty Hunter. The duo trains weekly and made it to the 2024 Gauteng West SANESA A-Team in the 80cm Working Hunter class. Her record jump … a solid 1.20m.<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s incredible to team up with an animal to do something we both love. That feeling of freedom, whether it\u2019s soaring over jumps or galloping with the wind in my ears, is just magic.\u2019<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-west\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/03\/Nelri-SMALL-1-267x400.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
At home, she\u2019s the same calm, diligent, and down-to-earth pilot you\u2019ll see in the airfield. What you see is what you get. She\u2019s also creative, artistic, and a pretty good singer. But want to make her day? Surprise her with a sunrise or sunset flight.<\/p>\n
Nelri\u2019s journey is proof that dreams don\u2019t just stay dreams if you\u2019re willing to chase them. She\u2019s tackled challenges head-on, pushed past every obstacle, and soared (literally) beyond expectations.<\/p>\n
Details: @Nellsaviatrix on Insta, @Nelri Duvenage on Facebook and @agirlwithgod on Tiktok<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As a young girl, Nelri Duvenage would jump down slopes with a blanket, dreaming she could fly. Today, at just 18, that dream is practically a reality. She\u2019s only a few flips away from earning her private pilot\u2019s license. While most teens were stressing over their matric farewell outfits, Nelri Duvenage was busy navigating the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":21717,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,20],"tags":[8135,5770,8137,8136,5775,54,5769,8130,6503,8133,680,8134,1095,5651,6067,8131,8132],"class_list":{"0":"post-21716","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-people","8":"category-personalities","9":"tag-accomplish","10":"tag-alanicka-lotriet","11":"tag-breaking-stereotypes","12":"tag-fly-high","13":"tag-flying-high","14":"tag-get-it-joburg-west","15":"tag-magazine","16":"tag-nelri-duvenage","17":"tag-passion","18":"tag-private-pilots-licence","19":"tag-school","20":"tag-student","21":"tag-study","22":"tag-teen","23":"tag-young","24":"tag-young-pilot","25":"tag-youth-edition"},"yoast_head":"\n