Ryan Campbell is the youngest pilot and first teenager to fly solo around the world. Ryan started his attempt at Illawarra Regional Airport on 30 June this year and he arrived back at the Illawarra Regional Airport after completing his flight on the morning of Saturday, 7th September (Australia’s federal election day) and a small ceremony took place at the Airport to mark the occasion. Persons who made welcoming speeches included the Mayor of Shellharbour City, Marianne Saliba, and Mrs Gaby Kennard, who herself flew solo around the world in a single engine plane.
The RAAF Roulettes also attended and flew an aerobatic sequence. They then parked their aircraft in vee formation on the tarmac with a space at the point of the vee which was then occupied by Ryan’s Cirrus aircraft.
The welcome event took place on the apron area between the HARS Museum and the old Terminal Building. Council obtained a Special Event Zone permit(SEZ) to allow the public to be in the area. See Ryan’s website http://www.teenworldflight.com to see Ryan’s progress and for more information: Our photo of Ryan and his Cirrus aircraft at Oshkosh USA during his flight is used with grateful thanks to Ryan and his website.
