From the Flight Deck

Dad Mark Stiles, left, Tim Stiles, mom Julie Stiles, grandmother Peggy Kantaros, and grandfather Bill Kantaros gather at Marshfield Municipal Airport for Tim’s 16th birthday solo flight. Photo by Scott C. Smith

When he was 14 years old, Tim Stiles asked his parents to take him to Marshfield Municipal Airport so he could see it. The airport was located in his hometown, and he was intensely curious to learn about it.

On his 16th birthday, Tim and his parents visited the airport again. Only this time it was for Tim to take his first solo flight. His certified flight instructor, Roger Means of Shoreline Aviation – the company that manages the airport for the town and operates fulltime charter flight, aircraft management and maintenance operations as well as flight lessons – knew he was ready.

A GoPro camera is ready to record Tim Stile’s solo flying experience.

The weather, as the fates would have it, didn’t cooperate that July day. Between hovering fog and increasing wind, Roger had to call it. Even though they had gathered at 7 a.m. to try to beat the wind, Mother Nature had other plans. Roger expressed hope that they could reconvene in the early evening, when the wind usually subsided. Rain, however, interfered, and the day was scrubbed.

Julie Stiles records her son, Tim, as he check’s the Piper Warrior’s oil level.

Tim Stiles makes one of several engine checks.

But the weather delay couldn’t prevent the inevitable. When Tim turned 16 years and two days, he would lift into the sky from Marshfield Municipal Airport’s Runway 24 in Shoreline’s trusty Piper Warrior trainer plane. After an initial round with Roger, Tim’s time had arrived.

He coasted along the taxi runway to the end, paused for yet another instrument check, then turned onto 24.

Tim Stiles flies solo at 16.

“Ah ha ha ha!” Roger exclaimed. The Piper raced along the runway, quickly accelerating as the piston engine issued its gentle roar. “No turning back!” Smoothly, the plane lifted into the air. “He’s up! A perfect takeoff!”

The engine purred from above as the plane flew past.

“I’ll tell you what,” Roger said to Tim’s parents. “He’ll remember that for the rest of his life!”

In all, Tim executed what his instructor called three “perfect” takeoffs and landings. Solo.

A giant leap for this Marshfield teen.

In the beginning

Two years ago Tim and his parents – Julie and Mark Stiles – met Roger Means at KGHG. Roger, a longtime Shoreline Aviation flight instructor, quickly took to the fascinated 14-year-old – whom he affectionately calls Kiddo – and before long took him up on an introductory flight. Tim took a few lessons over the coming months, and, “I got the bug.”

“I started lessons in 2021,” Tim said. “I wanted to fly, so we came to the airport and met Roger. I took a flight, and that was it; I got the bug. I’d like to turn flying into a career.”

Tim will follow up with more solo flights, and he and Roger will do some “cross-country” flights – flying to other regional airports such as Taunton and New Bedford. Tim will eventually solo to an airport, like Plymouth, to land and take off from there, experiencing different surroundings.

Flight instructor Roger Means proudly poses with his teenage student Tim Stiles

The buildup

Tim’s grandparents, Peggy and Bill Kantaros, waited in their car for Tim and his parents to arrive at the airport for the birthday flight. They’d had an hour’s drive and arrived first. They chatted amiably as to how hard Tim, the youngest of three boys, had been working at his lessons and how proud they were of him. They couldn’t make it back for the actual flight two days later, but Tim’s brother, Matt, did.

The Kantaroses’ daughter, Julie Stiles, said Tim was adamant about taking lessons. “He works at a pizza shop after school to pay for his lessons,” she said. “He does a lot of research at home. He’s very determined to do this!”

Prior to his intended birthday flight, Tim mounted a GoPro camera on the plane’s wing to record his experience. When the first flight time was canceled, he dismantled the camera setup, only to mount it again two days later. Tim maintains his video experiences, including some of his flying, at his Timmy Stiles channel on YouTube, @timmystiles.

Apparently, Tim takes after his dad. Mark Stiles is a real estate attorney in Marshfield who also happens to have a YouTube channel, @StilesLaw, where he posts business and community videos. He’s known in the region for his chats on The South Shore’s Morning News with Rob Hakala on WATD 95.9 radio. His program segments are “Feel Good Friday” and “Sunday Conversation.” Many can be found on his YouTube page.

Proud parents Mark and Julie Stiles congratulate their son Tim after his successful inaugural solo flights.

‘Life altering’

Tim taxied onto the ramp after his third landing, cut engine, and emerged from the Warrior’s cockpit to cheers, high fives and fist bumps from his ecstatic family. He gave his best “Rocky” victory pose.

“It was exciting, incredible,” an animated Tim exclaimed, as Matt disengaged the GoPro from the wing for his little brother. “When I got up there, I was more just focusing. When I got to 1,000 feet cruising, looked around, I was like, ‘I’m alone, this is cool!’ I came in and landed. I did it three times. It was pretty incredible. It was life altering.”

Big brother Matt Stiles gives little brother Tim a bro hug.

His instructor couldn’t stop grinning.

“It’s a really exciting thing for a young man Tim’s age, 16-years-old, to actually solo an airplane,” Roger said. “It’s a very rare event. This is a kid who’s been working at this over two years now. He’s more than ready to do this. He’s a dedicated young man that has spent a lot of time and a lot of effort towards this day.”