Young Ryan Campbell isn't your average blob-on-the-couch teenager. Yes, he owns an iPad, but it certainly doesn't own him.
Whilst many of Australia's youth are wondering where life is going to lead them, Ryan is intent on tackling life head on and showing his contemporaries the way by example. At just 19 years old, he is planning a solo flight around the world next year, with the aim of inspiring young people to fly. In doing so, he will become the youngest person ever to make the journey, taking the mark from the current holder, American Barrington Irving, who set the record in 2007 at 23.
Ryan can attest to the power of being inspired by the young. Not so many years ago he himself was stung into action when he read a story of another young achiever.
"I read an article about a boy who soloed at 15 and I became quite jealous," he told Australian Flying. "No-one told me I could go solo so early, so I went and did the same thing. It sparked a challenge in me to do everything at a young age.
"I always wanted to fly around the world, but I never thought it was within my reach."
Reading that article might have pricked him into action, but a flying career had been his only aim since, as a six-year-old, he was shown around the cockpit of a B737 (remember when that used to be allowed?). There may have been a bit of family encouragement too, given that his grandfather, father, uncle and brothers are all pilots. When flying's in your blood, fly you must, even if it means cirumnavigating the globe.
Without the support of a large organisation such as an airline or an air force, a global circumnavigation is a mammoth task of logistics, red tape, determination and planning, planning, planning. Whilst Ryan's idea was still embryonic, he sought mentoring from two Australian Worldrounders, Dick Smith and Ken Evers. After speaking with both, he came away with a belief that the task was possible and got cracking.
"Ken Evers made me realise that I could do it," Campbell said. "And he offered me all the help he could give. Initially I was planning for 2014, but Ken said 'Why not do it in 2013? Then you'll be the first teenager to fly solo around the world.' Six months later we have the foundation of the trip in place."
Evers and co-pilot Tim Pryse used an Airvan, and Dick Smith a Bell Jetranger, but Ryan has not yet settled on the type of aeroplane that will make such an indelible mark on his life. After meeting Cirrus Regional Director Graham Horne at AUSFLY, Ryan seems sold on an SR22. He just needs to get the backing, and unlike Evers and Pryse, won't be in a hurry to give the aeroplane back afterwards.
"I want to fly it around Australia when I get back [from the world trip] and go into schools and talk to young people. It would be good to get them out to the airport and let them sit in it so I can explain the ailerons and all that sort of thing."
That's all for next year. Right now what Ryan needs is backing. His website www.teenworldflight.com explains the project and the various sponsorship packages on offer, in hope of attracting the funds needed to bankroll what is an expensive trip.
But in the end, it will all be worth it. Anyone who has been to a CASA seminar will have noted the preposterous number of pilots that arrive resplendid in their grey hair. General aviation, in particular private flying, could use a booster injection from the fountain of youth, and a project like Ryan Campbell's trip around the world might indeed be a shot in the arm.