Being able to fly a plane is always a daunting task for even the most ready pilot. But for one Southmoreland High School student, his dream is becoming a reality.

Josh McCue, a sophomore at Southmoreland Senior High School, has been dreaming of being a pilot for the Navy ever since he was 7 years old.

“I’ve always thought being a naval pilot would be the coolest thing ever,” said McCue, “and now that I’m one step closer to achieving that goal is the most exciting thing ever.”

McCue began training for his pilot’s license in 2012.

“It was very surprising that my instructor let me fly the plane on my very first lesson,” said McCue. “I was like, ‘Wow, she is actually letting me fly this plane!’”

Chelsea Pratt is McCue’s flight instructor

“She’s a really good instructor,” McCue said. “I love flying with her because she is hilarious and she knows what she’s talking about.”

McCue plans on taking his training to the next level and enlisting in the Navy to be a fighter pilot.

“I think that it would be the greatest job in the world,” said McCue “But, if I can’t make it as a fighter pilot I’d definitely want to be an acrobatic racing pilot for the Blue Angels.”

McCue has had family influence to be in any branch of the armed forces.

“My three uncles have all been in different branches of the armed forces.” said McCue. “My uncle Chris was in the Navy, my uncle Bob was involved with the Air Force ground ops, and my uncle Dan was a paratrooper of the 82nd airborne division.”

“I really would like to be a Naval Fighter Pilot,” said McCue, “that’s the ultimate goal and if I can’t do that I still want to be a pilot.”

McCue hopes to get his pilot’s license sometime within the next few months.

He plans to continue training to achieve his Jet and Acrobatic Pilot certification.