Round the world pilot, 19,stops off at Lydd Airport

The airport waived its landing fees and is providing Australian Ryan Campbell with free hangarage during his two-day stop at Lydd. He embarked on the next leg of his epic journey, to Cannes in France, on Thursday.

The young Aussie’s record-breaking attempt began on June 30 when he took off from Wolllongong, Australia. He is scheduled to return on September 7, having covered more than 24,000 nautical miles.

Along the way he’ll be making 28 stops and visiting 14 countries on five continents, including the USA, Canada, Iceland, Scotland, England, France, Greece, Egypt, Oman, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

If he succeeds, Ryan will not only be the youngest pilot to circumnavigate the globe solo but also the first teenager. The world record is currently held by 21-year-old American Jack Wiegand.

Ryan says he wants to illustrate the accessibility of the aviation industry at a young age and to show that any dream is achievable: “Not only am I trying to inspire youth to take flight, but for their dreams to take flight too, in whatever field that may be.”

Lydd Airport operations manager Bernard Daly said: “We’re all keeping our fingers crossed that he’s successful.”