The State - News from Nov. 10, 1987

A 10-year-old Santa Maria boy took off from Fort Lewis, Wash., on the first leg of a cross-country flight aimed at setting a distance and speed record for his age group. The goal is to complete the 2,500 air miles from Washington to Florida in 13 hours flying time. Erik Fiederer was being accompanied by his mother, Air Force Col. Nancy Fiederer of Vandenberg Air Force Base, and flight instructor Daryle Crowder. The first night’s stop was in Wichita, Kan. The final destination is Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. Erik, who turns 11 on Nov. 21, said he wanted to be a pilot since he was 4 and decided to try a cross-country flight when he heard of a similar feat by another child. In July, Christopher Lee Marshall, 10, of Oceano, became the youngest pilot to fly across the country.