A Bendigo teenager has started flying around Australia in an effort to raise $40,000 for national charity Angel Flight.
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Solomon Cameron, 15, took off from Bendigo Airport on Sunday and will travel from Tasmania, along the east coast of Australia, to the Top End.
He will then head along the west coast of the country before crossing the Nullarbor back to Bendigo.
"On the way, I will be raising money for Angel Flight," Mr Cameron said. "They have volunteer pilots who carry people who need medical attention in remote rural areas."
Angel Flight launched in 2003 and co-ordinates non-emergency medical flights for regional people so they can receive specialist medical treatment that would otherwise be unavailable to them because of distance and travel costs.
"I hope that when I'm a bit older and not so busy with other things I can operate for them," Mr Cameron said.
"It's an awesome charity and they do wonderful things for the Australian community."
The 15-year-old has been passionate about flying from a young age.
"My father had his pilot licence but gave it up when I was three years old," he said. "That started my love of aviation and I always thought I would become a pilot.
"When I was 11, I would spend every weekend riding out to the airport and just watching the planes take off. I dreamed that I could be up there."
Mr Cameron gained his pilot certificate when he was 12 years old. He spent months cleaning aircraft in an effort to save up for lessons.
"I finally saved up enough money for my first lesson," he said.
"That first lesson just secured my thoughts that I wanted to become a pilot."
Mr Cameron started flying solo on his 15th birthday. In the seven months since, he has flown more than 90 hours in his two-seater Jabiru J230.
The 15-year-old, who is still at high school, said his school and family have been supportive of his decision to take a few weeks off for the journey.
"My family think it's great," Mr Cameron said.
"They knew I really loved flying and they enjoy coming up with me. My dad in particular likes to fly with me."
Over the next 30 days, Mr Cameron will fly three to four hours a day and will cover more than 15,000 kilometres.
Alongside raising money for Angel Flight, he said he would also stop at schools across the country to speak to people his age about the benefits of flying.
"I really want to promote the aviation industry for younger people," he said. "Even though the price is a bit expensive, it is available to everyone. It's not that hard to achieve."
Mr Cameron said people could contribute to his cause at au.gofundme.com/soloman-15
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