Schools
Leesburg 12th Grader Makes Aviation History With Vision Jet Achievement
From a brand partner: After training alongside veteran pilots, 17-year-old Maddie earned a rare Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 type rating.
Leesburg, Virginia — Virginia is home to students who are showing up, standing out and making a real impact in their schools and communities. To celebrate them, Patch and T-Mobile have partnered to spotlight local students excelling in academics, athletics, the arts and beyond.
This submission comes from Tracy Allen, who nominated Maddie.
If you know a student who deserves recognition, we want to hear about them! Click here to nominate them to be featured as a Star Student on Patch.
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What is the star student’s name?
Maddie
Find out what's happening in Leesburgfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
What grade is the student in?
12
How do you know the star student?
My daughter
Tell us about your star student's accomplishments and why they deserve to be recognized on Patch!
Maddie is the youngest female pilot in the world to get her type rating in the Cirrus Vision Jet SF50! She started the year 2026 with a goal of learning to fly a jet before high school graduation. She grew up around planes and started her lessons at Leesburg Airport just before her seventeenth birthday. Since then, Maddie has gone from being able to fly about 50 miles away as a student pilot to flying all the way to Knoxville, Tennessee, as a fully instrument-rated pilot!
My husband, Rob Allen, gave her the opportunity to get her type rating in the Cirrus Vision Jet SF50. She spent two weeks in Knoxville, Tennessee, in a rigorous class with pilots who had more than 1,500 flying hours. Maddie says, ‘I can’t say it was easy, and I definitely was holding my breath until the very end of my five-hour-long check ride, but I’m very proud to say that I’m the youngest female pilot to ever complete the course!’
In the future, Maddie hopes to get her ATP multi-engine rating, her seaplane rating, and become a commercial pilot!
What three words best describe your star student?
Driven, Adventurous, Inspiring.
Keep up the great work, Maddie! If you know a star student who deserves recognition, we want to hear about them! Click here to nominate them to be featured on Patch.
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