Mum had always requested our beds be made before school, not smoothed over neatly but made into something that met and exceeded the expectations of the armed forces on inspection day. I am sure this was a good thing, but I was never motivated when it came time to actually make the bed, which was always a challenge. This goes for a lot of things. I was always sick on cross-country day and I considered school gymnastics the worst form of punishment still legal in the modern world. A double lesson of mathematics nearly brought on tears and physics always ended in a headache. They all had one thing in common – I didn’t have an interest in them.
My active mind, the one that I am sure thinks way too much, suddenly found something it could focus on. My interest in aviation that had begun at six morphed into a pure burning passion at fourteen. All it took was a flight in an aeroplane. Nothing managed to get in my way, goal setting came naturally and my life changed for the better. I had never been able to focus on anything as I did on aviation. (If only I had had that enthusiasm for making my bed, or school for that matter, but I just didn’t.)
I began to learn some very important life lessons from my experiences in aviation. The responsibility normally first given to a young kid in a car was now handed to me in the form of an aeroplane at a much younger age. I might have been young on paper, but it was super important that I act like an old man on the inside, even if I had to sternly tell Mum not to touch that red button. I was given opportunities and responsibilities beyond my imagination, but that was what was exciting. As I passed each test and gained a little more experience, that active mind that thought way too much was still thinking, this time about a new adventure. Flying around the world.
I was a pilot, but so were many other young kids. I wanted to fly around the world but I was sure it was a stupid idea. If I didn’t have the stamina to make my bed on a daily basis or to study a subject I didn’t care about, what made me think I could achieve something unique?
Well. There is only one answer. It was my passion.
Your mind is very powerful. For the first time in my life, the burning desire to achieve something overcame negative thoughts. Months of the one idea churning over and over in my mind resulted in an email to the most successful Australian entrepreneurs and aviators of all time. Why did I think I could email Dick Smith and Ken Evers? The passion and burning desire again outdid the negative thoughts, it was my most likely option for success at the time, so off the email went.
With the initial support of Dick Smith and Ken Evers, I soon realised that my dream was becoming a potential reality. I started to learn a number of things very quickly; every day offered a new lesson of some sort, although rarely aviation-related. As much as a practical plan this was a mind game, the challenge being to accept what was happening and create a mindset where it was possible to work through the difficulties and problems day by day. It’s an attitude that can be applied to any type of personal challenge, certainly one beyond aviation.
Although we planned the actual flight meticulously, the issues in even being ready to set off were bigger than I had ever imagined. Issues such as sourcing an aircraft, raising sufficient funds (something we did achieve, but barely), overcoming fear of the media, finding enough time in the day to work, eat, sleep and fly were ever present. This constant workload made life hard, but along with the burning passion to achieve the goal there was another factor. The flight had become public. It was now beyond just a thought in the mind of a kid who thought too much. It was the common interest of an ever-growing number of people.
I often say that if no one else knew about the flight apart from me, I would have given up a thousand times; because it was a public affair the urge to see it through was always there. This showed me personally – the kid who struggled with menial household chores – just what I was capable of with the right amount of courage and commitment.
The planning continued, the support grew and the stories of endless contributions, commitment and encouragement took over our lives. The planning stage soon became the flight itself and as well as being a full-on time for me it was definitely something of a challenge for so many others. I kept moving every day, the team kept the wheels well oiled and after many months of flying and many years of planning, we successfully carried out what I believe was one of the safest and most carefully planned around-the-world flights in history. The dream had become a successful operation. We had broken a record, inspired youth and benefited youth beyond aviation through the funds raised for our partner charity. It seemed we had inspired many other people too.
My life had changed from what was considered normal to the rollercoaster ride known as Teen World Flight, a ride that did not cease until 8 September 2013. Although the actual flight had been a big change, coming back home was a much bigger one, the transition from the everyday addictive adrenaline rush to a normal life. So much focus had been on my safe arrival back home that the end of the adventure was a complete shock. I knew I probably should do something but had no idea just what that should be.
On 8 September I woke up, got out of bed, went to the kitchen and opened the fridge door. After a few moments of indecisiveness, my inability to cook led me to skip breakfast before taking on the day. Instead I went to the airport. Of all the places in the world I could go, I ended up back with the Cirrus in order to begin taking out the ferry tank and carrying out maintenance before an air show I was hoping to fly to. I could have stayed home and shared stories with the family, but I didn’t. Regardless where I was in the world, I still needed an adrenaline rush. If that was not available, at least I needed to be playing with the aeroplane.
The first week at home was spent undertaking maintenance and the following weekend I flew Mum and Dad in the Cirrus to the Narromine AusFly air show. This was the same event I had attended a year before to officially announce the plans of my trip to the public. Now I had returned to share the journey with hundreds of interested listeners. I remember standing up on the stage and before I had even said a word an entire hangar full of people were standing on their feet, all clapping, eager to hear a story I had yet to tell.
Media responsibilities continued. I spoke about my experiences on many radio interviews and made various personal appearances. Dave Lyall remained my right-hand man, organising many events including speaking engagements, which allowed the story to be told in much more detail. I accepted awards and attended various events I had never imagined being part of: whether being named the Australian Geographic Society’s 2013 Young Adventurer of the Year or catching up with Dick Smith regularly. Every occasion seemed surreal, odd, in a way nothing to do with me.
As 2013 moved on, I was able to be introduced into the world of twin engine flying. Whether this was a sound decision or not, this opportunity saw me move out of home to Newcastle about 200 kilometres north of Sydney. I took on a new job flying twin engine Piper Chieftains moving patients all around the skies of eastern Australia, all while juggling different events and engagements. It was all part of the learning process, the process of bringing Teen World Flight into a new and slightly more normal life.
Although the flight will always be a part of my life, it was now a story to be told and no longer an experience to be lived. I was trundling down one of the many crossroads hoping that I had made the right decision, aided by the lessons I had learned. There have been many, but three have stood out above the rest.
Goal setting is vital. Without the ability to organise my life into short-term and long-term goals, whether getting out of bed in time for work or finishing this story, I would have fallen in a heap. Set your own goals and work towards them. It is easier to write many chapters, one at a time, than to write an entire book.
Courage and commitment are extremely important. If you are at all a partially realistic person, no matter what your dream and no matter how unachievable it may seem, these are what you need. If you move ahead with these two qualities alone, all the other aspects will more easily fall into place.
The third thing i
s this: make decisions simple. As we all know, life is complicated. Whether you’re faced with the daily grind of a job you don’t like, the stress of bills or debt, the race to have the latest and greatest of everything or the myriad other issues faced on a daily basis, life always has a way of making things hard. When you are facing a significant decision don’t let the little issues have an effect on your big answer, take a step back and look at the big picture, answer with a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, stick with the answer and work out all the other smaller issues around that.
I believe the most important lesson to take away from TeenWorldFlight is this: ordinary people can achieve. How you gauge your ability to succeed in life is dependent on your attitude. Although I have learned a great deal from the last two years, I am the first to say my adventure has only just begun. Who knows where the next adventure will lead? I hope that my experiences lived and lessons learned can help in pointing other adventurers in the right direction.
In April 2014 I stood in Government House in our nation’s capital as an official guest at the Governor-General’s reception for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. I stood and shook hands with Prince William and we casually discussed flying before he confirmed that next time I set off around the world it must be in a helicopter with the Duke himself. To be given the opportunity to meet members of the Royal Family was an honour and another experience to add to the collection, another story to tell mates at the bar.
As I am sure many people question their own positions in life, I often wonder whether I took the right road at the end of Teen World Flight. The rollercoaster of emotions and experiences I have undergone since the end of my circumnavigation, such as meeting the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, buying a new car, moving out of home, pushing myself as a pilot in a new job and always looking for new opportunities, have made me realise that I have.
The right road is one that has adventure and excitement, one that allows you to set goals and makes every day new, adventurous and exciting. One that makes you want to get up every morning and make your bed.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This is my attempt to express my gratitude and thanks to many people in far too few words. I could easily spend another six months naming individuals, sharing stories and personally passing on thanks to each and every person who played a part, big or small, in Teen World Flight, but that would take up more space than I have here. This is why I would like to explain what the word ‘we’ means to me.
Whenever I described anything about the flight – the planning, my experiences during the flight, its beginning or end – I have always used that word. We took off. We were relieved to have reached the coastline. We broke a world record.
I was often asked, ‘But it was just you in the plane, wasn’t it?’ Of course that is true in one sense, but though this was a solo journey it was in no way a flight taken alone.
My wildest dream, at first hidden by doubt and insecurity, was carried forward by people who gave me unending support, belief and encouragement. Without them my dream would have remained just that. Teen World Flight was a success not just for me, the solo pilot, but for thousands of others. Without the support of each and every person, from our sponsors to strangers who wished me luck while walking down the street, the flight would not have taken place and the objectives of Teen World Flight would never have been met. And so every single person, whether a member of the main team or a well-wishing member of the public, is part of that word ‘we’.
To Mum and Dad: I think we can all say that the journey of Teen World Flight was more complicated, stressful and worrisome than we ever imagined. There were challenges beyond our imagination but they were all successfully overcome. Thank you for your support, not only in my flying from the very beginning and Teen World Flight, but throughout my life. I promise the next challenge will be much more low key.
To Chris, Adam, Claire, my pilot mates, friends and family: as faces seen regularly, as influential peers of similar age, as pilots and most importantly as family and friends, you have all been phenomenally supportive of someone you know so well taking on something you might not have expected. I appreciate everything you have done so very much, and look forward to returning the favour in the future.
To Ken: well, what can I say? You took a young kid’s crazy idea and played one of the most vital roles in making it a reality. You were always there, the voice that gave support and reinforced belief when I decided it was all becoming too hard. It is near impossible to explain my thanks for what you have done for me. I am looking forward to any flying adventures we share in the future. (Just not solo or in a piston-engine aircraft over water, okay?)
To Dick Smith: beyond sponsorship, beyond advice and beyond kind words delivered both face to face and in public, you passed on something even greater. Your reply to my original email was an electronic form of inspiration and encouragement, reinforced when I first shook your hand and during each encounter afterwards. Thank you for your belief in my dreams and for your contagious, unhindered sense of adventure.
To Dave Lyall: Mr Right-Hand Man. Thank you for your initial interest in the flight, your generosity and flexible approach to my plans, your professional input and patience. Your team is fantastic, professional and easy to work with; thanks, Lloyd! Most of all, thanks for the good times and memorable laughs. Taco Bell tastes better at midnight.
To the team at Harlequin, especially Jo, Adam, Camille, Romina, Sue and Lauren, to my editor Jacqueline and first editor Dave: if you had told me when I swapped Advanced English for Standard English class during my Higher School Certificate that I would write a book, I would have laughed. Thank you all for your patience, encouragement and dedication towards improving my storytelling and correcting my spelling mistakes. Thanks to you all, I have written a real book.
To Selwa Anthony: I must thank both you and Linda for taking a chance on me. Your experience and encouragement have given me the spur I needed to take on the challenge of writing this book. Don’t be surprised if I drop around for another cup of tea and cake.
To members of the Frogs Hollow Aero Club: your support for Teen World Flight was beyond anything I had ever imagined, but in previous years your support went far beyond measurable. What I learned in flying different types of aircraft, the experience I have stolen and the good laughs I have had helped put me in a position to take on the flight. Thank you again, I look forward to plenty more Sunday afternoons at Frogs.
To David and Leanne Green, Andrew and Caroline Dance and the Lamattina family: the most vital piece of the puzzle was of course the aircraft; not just finding a machine that upheld safety standards, but getting one in a way that was feasible and fair. Then we were equipped with the Spirit of the Sapphire Coast, an advanced and safe aircraft that met every expectation we had and achieved the goal with relative ease. Without your support and generosity the puzzle pieces would not have fallen together at the very end. Thank you!
To Mike Gray and White Rose Aviation: dear ‘Uncle Mike’, on 7 September 2013 I arrived home. Not once did I see the inside of a jail cell, not one was I arrested and I am pretty sure I will be welcome back in every one of the fifteen countries I visited. Thank you for helping make this possible, and I look forward to an alcoholic beverage or two in an English pub.
The sponsors of Teen World Flight: from our principal partner Telstra to the local takeaway store that collected unwanted spare change, you are all phenomenal individuals, companies and organisations that took a step beyond interest in seeing Teen World Flight become a success. I wish I could share the story of every sponsor and the faces and friendships behind the logos on the aeroplane. Thank you for making my dream come true and for changing the lives of so many.
Uncle Charles and the 60 Minutes family: you all became more than a TV crew, we had a great time together and the program was a culmination of the moments we had together throughout the Teen World Flight journey. I still find it hard to believe I took a selfie with Charles Woolley while trying to survive a tu
ktuk ride through the streets of Colombo. Thank you!
I would like to thank the many experienced minds who offered advice and experience, whether as pilots, businessmen or anything else. This advice led to successful planning and a safe flight. I admire each and every one of you and hope in the future to give someone else the benefit of my experience as generously as you have given yours to me.
I truly hope that all of you have enjoyed the ride.
Ryan Campbell, June 2014
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ISBN: 9781488742798
TITLE: Born to Fly
First Australian Publication 2014
Copyright © 2014 by Ryan Campbell
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilisation of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the permission of the publisher:
Harlequin Enterprises
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North Sydney NSW 2060
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
MIRA and the Star Colophon are trademarks used under license and registered in Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, United States Patent and Trademark Office in other countries.
Born To Fly Page 29
