'Eagle Dad' Says His Son Is The World's Youngest Pilot

A Chinese parent has reportedly paid about $5,000 to have his 5-year-old son trained as a pilot, and allowed the boy to fly an ultralight aircraft.

The child is Hi Yide, who is also known as Duoduo. His father, He Liesheng, told the China Global Times that he had paid for private flying lessons for his son, and that the boy had flown the aircraft by himself for 35 minutes at Beijing Wildlife Park in China. A YouTube video shows the boy in the front seat of an ultralight, with someone in the back.

The elder He calls himself "Eagle Dad." He said he plans to contact the Guinness organization to register his son as the world's youngest pilot.

But it's not the first time the two have been the topic for the news. Last year the boy, then four, was shown on a video which went viral being "trained" by his father in the snow in New York City wearing only yellow underpants, shoes and socks. The parent said the fitness training would "toughen up" his son, who was born prematurely.  Yahoo News reports that at one point in that video, the child is seen holding his arms close to his chest and asking "please give me a hug."

(Image captured from YouTube video)

FMI: YouTube Video