Editor’s Note: We’re excited to introduce you to the innovative, bold, and talented individuals competing in GoFly. Our teams come from all over the world, shaped by their diverse backgrounds and unique life experiences. We can’t wait to see what they’ll build, but in the meantime, get to know the people behind the devices.

Colin Hilton, the sole member of Team Teledrone from the United Kingdom, envisions a future where traveling is as simple as placing a phone call. After leaving an office job behind to execute his vision, Hilton is now pursuing the dream of building a personalized flying device as part of the GoFly Prize challenge.

Read on to learn more about what sparked his early interest in aviation, and what he considers to be the biggest challenge for personal flight.

Was there something that inspired your interest in aviation when you were a child?

Growing up, I remember literally looking up to the Airfix models that hung from my childhood bedroom ceiling. They intrigued me.

What’s your earliest memory associated with flight?

My earliest memory is a flight I took across the English Channel in a Bristol Freighter when I was just a child.

What were some of your favorite courses in school?

English literature, as I’ve never been able to separate the sciences from the arts.

When did you decide to pursue a career in aviation?

I worked with computers until my hatred of offices exceeded my hatred of programming. That’s when I turned to aviation.

What excites you about GoFly?

I’m motivated by the chance to steer flight in a direction that enables the individual.

What does the world look like after you create your flying device?

One day, individuals will be able to step into a device that will transport them to locations that previously they could only phone.

What is the biggest challenge standing in the way of personal flight?

People’s fear of flight is the biggest challenge when it comes to personal flight innovation. My goal is to normalize 3D transportation to the same extent that telephony has become mainstream.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received from a mentor?

Listen carefully to advice, and then ignore it.

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