15 Facts About Kimberly Anyadike

Kimberly Ndidi Anyadike was born on February 1,1994 and is an American pilot from Compton, California.

Kimberly Anyadike's plane was autographed by about 50 Tuskegee airmen as she stopped at different cities across the US, and she completed the round-trip journey in a single-engine Cessna 172 in 13 days.

In 2015, Kimberly Anyadike received the first Young Aviator's Award from the Tuskegee Airmen in recognition of her achievements.

Kimberly Anyadike's parents are originally from Nigeria, and their surname Anyadike means "eye of the warrior" in the Igbo language.

Kimberly Anyadike took dance lessons at the Lula Washington Dance Academy, served as a junior lifeguard at Venice Beach for five years, and volunteered as a youth leader at her local church.

Kimberly Anyadike took her first flying lessons at the age of 12, attending an after-school aviation program offered by Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum for disadvantaged youths.

Kimberly Anyadike was inspired to take lessons after reading about Jonathan Strickland, an earlier participant of the program who became the youngest person to fly a fixed-wing aircraft and a helicopter solo in a single day.

Kimberly Anyadike paid for her flight lessons with "museum dollars" earned by washing airplanes and working odd jobs around the Compton Airport.

Kimberly Anyadike wanted to inspire other youth, while honouring the Tuskegee Airmen, an African-American air combat unit that served during World War II.

Kimberly Anyadike was accompanied by adult safety pilot Ronnell Norman, and Major Levi H Thornhill, an 87-year-old retired US Air Force pilot who had served as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Kimberly Anyadike made at least a dozen scheduled stops along the way, and navigated through thunderstorms as she flew across Texas.

In May 2015, Kimberly Anyadike received the Tuskegee Airmen's inaugural Young Aviator's Award in Tuskegee, Alabama, in recognition of her achievements as a pilot.

In 2017, Kimberly Anyadike was interviewed about her transcontinental flight for a special Disney Channel segment for Black History Month entitled 'True Heroes Are Timeless'.

Kimberly Anyadike graduated with her undergraduate degree from UCLA in June 2016.

In interviews, Kimberly Anyadike has said that a friendly rivalry with Kelly helped inspire her to complete her own piloting achievements.