By Jennifer Langdon and Byron Waller, EAA 1670717, Australia
At just 15 years old, Byron Waller is preparing to do something extraordinary: become the youngest supported pilot to fly around the world.
His journey isn’t just about aviation. It’s about resilience, visibility, and inspiring young people who live with hidden challenges. Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2024 after a lifetime of health issues, Byron’s world was briefly grounded. But rather than retreating, he found his runway.
In September 2024, Byron became the youngest pilot to fly around Australia, a 19-day journey that tested his endurance, sharpened his decision-making, and sparked a national conversation about young people with chronic illnesses. That flight wasn’t just about crossing miles. It was about crossing barriers. Now he’s setting his sights even higher: a global mission across 22 countries and five continents, including Canada.
Byron’s upcoming mission, aptly titled “From Patient to Pilot,” began on August 9, 2025, from Brisbane, Australia. Weather, fuel, and clearances permitting, his route will take him through Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and North America before returning home.
What makes Byron’s mission stand out isn’t just the age or the distance, it’s the “why.” Byron wants to meet kids and teens living with invisible conditions: Crohn’s, diabetes, autism, ADHD, anxiety, learning disabilities, intellectual impairments, and more. His message is simple: you are not your diagnosis, and you are not alone. Through school visits, airport meetups, and media engagements, Byron hopes to amplify unheard voices across borders.
A Canadian Connection
Byron’s journey will bring him to North America in late September 2025 with planned stops in both the U.S. and Canada. While final airfields are being confirmed, Byron’s team is eager to connect with EAA chapters, Young Eagles, and Canadian flying schools along the way. If you’re a Canadian pilot, school, or EAA chapter interested in welcoming Byron, or helping with logistics, reach out now to be part of this once-in-a-generation flight.
As an EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025 speaker, Byron was introduced by Jean d’Assonville of Sling Aircraft. His story is resonating across the globe, but he knows aviation is about people, not just airplanes. Canada has long embraced aviation as a bridge across vast terrain and communities, and Byron’s team sees this spirit as the perfect match for his mission.
More Than a Mission, a Movement
Byron’s initiative is backed by aviation leaders, educators, and even government officials. He’s also the author of a new book, Teen Pilot Down Under – From Patient To Pilot: How a Teen Flew Around Australia and Found His Purpose, chronicling his first journey around Australia at 14 years old with lessons in storytelling, resilience, challenges, and hope.
His airplane, a Sling TSi with a Rotax 915iS engine, has been outfitted with cutting-edge safety and navigation gear. But perhaps the most powerful tool onboard is Byron’s ability to connect with people, especially young dreamers who’ve been told their illness defines them.
Byron explains, “We’re raising awareness and lifting the belief that young people who live with daily challenges can still dream big and do something that feels impossible.”
How to Get Involved
Fly over and meet Byron as he enters and flies through Canada. Follow the mission via real-time flight tracking using registration VH-ZMD. Read and share his story Teen Pilot Down Under. Follow him on Instagram @Teenpilotdownunder, and if you can spare a few dollars, donate to help him achieve this mission via his GoFundMe.
Of course, he’d also love it if you can spread the word to youth aviation groups, hospitals, outreach programs, and schools.
Byron Waller’s flight may take him around the world, but his message will land in the hearts of those who need it most. For Canadian aviators, it’s a chance to welcome a young pilot whose wings carry more than just fuel. They carry a global message of hope, courage, and flight beyond limitation.