While traveling in Germany and Slovakia this summer Dr. Tom Muller met Victor, a former Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet pilot. Tom said:
Victor soloed at 14 and was training in the ME163 at 16 when they ran out of rocket fuel in 1945.
He said they flew gliders first then Jungmanns and the best went on to Bf109s or FW190s after Jungmeister flying if possible, and the ones who didn't do so well in Jungmanns went to the FW44 Stieglitz, and then to bombers or transports.
He was chosen for 163s due to his small build and weight! He still flies gliders and is still going strong.
There is a Komet replica flying today. Without the rocket engine, fuel tanks, armor and weaponry it weighs only a fraction of the original, but is otherwise a faithful replica.