Most 16-year-old’s tend to be more concerned about school, sport and hanging out with their friends.
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But for Sunshine Coast-based Liam Morey, he will be attempting to break a world record this year.
On September 8, Morey will attempt to take the world record for being the youngest person to fly around Australia.
Morey will be 16 and eight months at the time, with the current record holder aged 17-and-a-half at the time.
It’s estimated the youngster’s trip will take three to four weeks, with an estimated 30 stops along the way.
He was in Bathurst on Saturday, for the biennial Soar, Ride and Shine festival and told the Western Advocate he’s extremely excited to take on a unique but tough challenge.
“It’ll be fun and I’m really excited. There’s not a better way to put it,” he said.
“I’ve always loved flying but it’ll be difficult.”
Last year Morey was the youngest pilot in Australia, which he described as “really cool”.
He was later beaten by a friend by 36 hours and Morey jokingly said “we won’t talk about that”.
The challenge to take on Australia was decided for his quest to take on something big.
“I always like being busy and doing something. I said to Ivan, my instructor, one day, ‘What would be involved in doing something like this?’
“We’ve got the aircraft sorted by Anderson Aviation and that’s where we are at the moment.”
Morey only started flying two years ago.
He currently studies at Siena Catholic College but has planned his trip around the school holidays.
Interestingly, he wants to pursue a career in medicine after school rather than flying.
“It’s a great hobby but not a great career to get into at the moment,” he said.
“Maybe down the track, a midlife crisis but we’ll see.”
Morey’s instructor Ivan Tyson, from Sunshine Coast Aero Club, said the flight will be logistically challenging.
“It’ll be logistically complicated. Before he goes, it’ll be a solid six months planning,” he said.
“He’s also a minor, so we’ll be weary about that. We want him to complete it with as little risk as possible.
“It’s not hard to fly round Australia but it’s logistically hard.”