Ethiopian Airplane Builder Set to Undertake Second Trial Flight

35-year-old Asmelash Zeferu dreamt of being a pilot, so he spent 15 years constructing his own light aircraft to realise that childhood dream.

Photo: The Ethiopian Herald/Ethiopia Airport Entreprises

Asmelash Zeferu's K-570A airplane to take 2nd trial flight.

Asmelash Zeferu, 35, was born in south eastern part of Tigray State in a small village called Hadare. He grew up and attended his primary and high school education in different parts of the country till he joined Hawassa University with the department of Health Science where he earned BSc in Public Health.

Briefing journalists yesterday, Asmelash said that it was his childhood dream to be a pilot. For this to happen, he took some technical courses and developed it through extensive and practical knowledge. And at present he sets to undertake his 2nd trial flight of his own airplane 'K-570A' February 19, 2016 in his project area around Sandafa Dabbe that makes him the first African in aerospace history.

"At the beginning" he said, most of his friends and even his parents consider him as crazy. Especially, in times of failure, they were sure that he was not normal but finally, he did it and show them what he was sweating for. He still envisioned that he will own an aircraft industry within the next 15 years.