RYAN CAMPBELL REACHES EUROPE IN ROUND THE WORLD FLIGHT

16 Aug 2013

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By Dave Calderwood

Ryan Campbell, the 19-year-old Australian pilot flying around the world, has arrived in the UK after a transatlantic flight via Iceland.

He landed at Wick, Scotland after flying from Reykjavik, cleared customs, refuelled and then flew south the length of Scotland and England to Lydd Airport, where his Cirrus aircraft is undergoing routine maintenance. He plans to leave for Cannes, France this weekend.

Ryan says about the flight from Iceland, "I pre-flighted and departed on track for my first waypoint, climbing to 9,000 feet. I was in clear skies. I was excited to see a glacier under my flight path. I had wanted to fly over the top of one but figured I did not have the time to divert off track.

"I was very happy with the weather. The tail winds and blue skies were far different from the flight into Reykjavik from Canada. I descended into Scotland through thick towering clouds. I only spotted land for the first time as I approached the airport at around five nautical miles. I broke visual and spotted both the airport and a little castle on the coast, I circled and landed into a strong cold wind.

"While customs and paperwork was being completed I was offered a cup of tea. This with the cold wet weather gave me a pretty good indication I had found the UK."

While the aircraft is at Lydd, Ryan has taken the chance to sight-see in London and meet the Australian Geographic Society.

For more on Ryan's flight, click here to read his blog, Teen World Flight.