Just weeks after graduating from Homewood-Flossmoor High School, 18-year-old Charley Dieringer is already accomplishing goals many aspiring aviators spend years working toward.

Dieringer earned his private pilot’s license this spring, passing his check ride just three days before his 18th birthday. Now, he is continuing his flight training while pursuing additional aviation certifications and building experience in the cockpit.

“I got my license three days before I turned 18, so I was still 17,” Dieringer said during an interview at Bult Field in Monee, where he trains and keeps an aircraft through a local flying club.

Dieringer said his interest in aviation began at a young age.

“I’ve always had an interest in transportation — planes, trains and cars,” he said. “Planes were always my favorite because it’s just awesome.”

After working for more than a year and a half, he decided to pursue flight lessons and began training at Bult Field. About a year and a half later, he had earned his pilot’s license.

One of the highlights of reaching that milestone was taking his grandmother on her first flight with him as pilot in command.

“The first person I took up was my grandma,” Dieringer said. “She was a little nervous, but we were safe, and we enjoyed it.”

Dieringer’s aviation accomplishments are only part of his impressive resume.

He has also excelled in advanced manufacturing and machining competitions through SkillsUSA. Last year, he finished second in the nation in CNC 3-Axis Milling Programming, a competition that tests participants’ ability to program computer-controlled machines used to manufacture metal and plastic parts.

“I got second in the nation for CNC 3-Axis Milling Programming,” Dieringer said. “I’ve also gotten numerous state titles in that, and I’ve won a couple of machining competitions over the years.”

He earned state championships in multiple CNC programming categories before advancing to the national competition in Atlanta.

Dieringer credits much of his success to experience gained through his family’s machine shop, where he learned machining skills and continued developing his knowledge through practice and self-study.

“A lot of it is just remaining proficient and continuing to learn,” he said. “How to make things more efficient, how to program the best way.”

Those mechanical skills have proven useful in aviation as well. Through the flying club that owns his aircraft, Dieringer serves as the designated maintenance person and performs basic maintenance tasks that pilots are permitted to complete.

The airplane he flies is a 1975 Cessna 150M powered by a 100-horsepower engine. The aircraft cruises at about 100 miles per hour and can remain airborne for roughly four hours. Earlier this year, Dieringer flew it to Lakeland, Florida, for the annual Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo.

Beyond flying, Dieringer has become heavily involved with the local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), a nonprofit organization that promotes aviation through education and outreach.

He first discovered the group while researching opportunities at Bult Field and began attending meetings before becoming a regular volunteer.

“It’s almost like my second home,” he said.

His involvement with EAA led to a $12,000 aviation scholarship and opportunities to introduce younger children to flying through the organization’s Young Eagles program, which provides free airplane rides to youth ages 8 to 17.

During a recent Young Eagles event, Dieringer flew two children who had never experienced general aviation.

“The second kid had never been in a small plane before,” he said. “He was just ecstatic. He was so happy to take the controls while we were in the air and just fly.”

Dieringer hopes to inspire other young people who may be interested in aviation.

“The biggest thing is just be involved,” he said. “You don’t just have to go and take lessons. You can come out and hang out at the airport, go to EAA meetings and meet people. There are so many connections you can make.”

As for what’s next, Dieringer is currently working toward his instrument rating, which will allow him to fly under a wider range of weather conditions. After that, he plans to pursue a commercial pilot’s license.

His long-term goal is to fly professionally, either for an airline or a corporate aviation company.

“I’d be happy to fly whatever jet or whatever plane somebody needs me to,” Dieringer said.

For now, the recent H-F graduate is continuing to build flight hours, sharpen his skills and pursue a dream that began with a fascination for airplanes and has already taken him thousands of feet above the above the south suburban area.