Media & Press

Welcome to the official media hub for Byron Waller, Teen Pilot Down Under who is currently flying a Sling TSi around the world.

Byron Waller is a 15-year-old pilot from Queensland, flew supported with his instructor around Australia in 2024. Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease earlier in 2024 after years of unexplained illness, Byron turned his health battle into a mission of hope and resilience, inspiration for others.

Media Highlights:

• UK news

  • BBC - By Tom Jackson

  • Ayr Airshow - With Captain Ham

  • Plane Spotters - By Ewan Partridge

  • MSN - By Tom Jackson

  • The Guardian - UK - By Esther Addley

  • Yahoo

  • Ayr Airshow - fast forward to 20 min mark to learn about Byron trip and upcoming Iceland/Greenland flight

  • Ayr Show news 5-6 September 2025

  • Pressreader - Brighton

  • Parapolitika news - UK

  • Air History VH-ZMD by Ewan Partridge

• Italian news

  • Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (National Associated Press Agency)

  • Corriere Adriatico

• American and Canada news:

  • EEA news

• United Arab Emirates news:

  • The Brew News and Youtube (with music and video that bought tears to his parents eyes) and with a jet and Byron’s plane passing by.

  • Lovin Abudhabi

  • Unique In Ahmedabad

  • Khalee J Times - great article

• India news:

  • Indian times - 15 Yo pilot shows Crohn’s can’t ground him.

  • Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel - International Airport arrival photos

  • Arrival in India Ahmedabad Airport by Sardar Vallabhbahai Patel International Airport (Twitter) and (Instagram)

• Sri Lanka news:

  • Colombo International Airport - Air Traffic Control Perspective of arrival of VH-ZMD

  • Sri Lanka Sunday Times

  • Landing in Sri Lanka

  • Ahmedabad Airport landing in Sri Lanka - beautiful video

  • Departing Sri Lanka and great video of Byron Waller travelling to India from Sri Lanka (Byron plane taking off)

  • News Wire IK

  • Daily Mirror

  • Aviation Voice and Instagram

  • News Wire and Video on News Wire

  • The Morning

  • EPress

• New Zealand media (not visited - yet!)

  • TV NZ 12 August 2025 (Sign in required) teen_pilot 1.mp4

• Australian media:

  • https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-09/teenage-pilot-historic-flight-youngest-to-fly-around-world/105632098

  • https://www.adgnt.com.au/alice-springs-welcomes-young-aviator-on-epic-journey-around-the-world

  • The Centralian Today - Alice Springs 10 August 2025

  • ABC Radio fly around the world

  • ABC news

  • Channel 9 (departing Brisbane Airport)

  • ABC Radio

  • Squizz news

• United States of America News:

  • Oshkosh, USA EAA media

  • American TV

• Featured on Channel 7 News, Juiced TV, and in The Australian Aviation Awards

• Premier David Crisafulli

• The Senior

• Opened the new gastroenterology ward at Queensland Children’s Hospital alongside the Health Minister

• Met with leaders including Malcolm Turnbull, DFAT advisors, Youth Minister Sam O’Connor in preparation for his world flight

• Letters of support from Deputy Prime Minister for Australia the Hon Richard Marles, Queensland Government Minister for Education and the Arts Hon John-Paul Langbroek, and New Zealand Government Hon James Meager,

• Finalist for 3 national Australian Aviation awards for 2024

• Nominated for Australian of the Year 2025

• Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology staff tour 11 July 2025

• Queensland Children’s Hospital 

• Queensland Children’s Hospital

• Channel 7