Planning for a round-the-world flight... at 16

A 16-year-old pilot who has just flown his first solo is planning to fly around the world in 2020, hopefully setting a new world record as the youngest person to do so.

Travis Ludlow has been training for his Private Pilot’s Licence at Booker Airfield in High Wycombe, and has passed six of the nine CAA exams. Travis is now training to complete his PPL this summer and gain 500+ hours of advanced training in preparation for his around the world flight.

Travis completed his first solo in a powered aircraft earlier this month. He soloed in a glider two years ago.

Travis has teamed up with Fly2Help, the charity founded by pilots and dedicated to raising the spirits of people, young and old, living in difficult personal situations and inspiring them through flying.

Nick Ludlow, Travis’s father, said, “Initially I brushed this off as just a kid’s dream, like being a fighter pilot or F1 racing car driver, but that was five years ago and he has not wavered from his plan in any way.

“I have now decided that I will not get in the way of his dream and will do whatever I can to help him have everything in place, so that should this adventure actually happen, he will be ready for take-off.

“He has a lot of training to do and recognises the magnitude of the task ahead. We have an excellent team of around the world experts who we are working with and who will monitor his flight and all the logistics required.

“A great deal of work has already gone in to this but we are not even close to being ready yet. I still think there is a 50/50 chance this won’t happen at all, but if you are not ready, then it certainly won’t. He, of course, has no doubt it will happen. He is a very determined young man.”

Travis Around the World Solo