Just 17 years old, Oliver sets off from Hobart airport on Sunday to attempt to become the youngest person to fly solo around Australia. 

“The main aim of the flight is to show the younger generation that there’s not limit to what you can achieve, if you’ve got a goal you can push there and get there,” Oliver said. 

Oliver will attempt over 20 days to reach the most Eastern, Northern Western and Southern points of Australia in a single-engine plane, thus securing the world record. 

“We’re sort of following the coast making the most of the trip, there’s no point rushing around getting back and going ‘Wow I just went around Australia’,” he said. 

Preparation for the trip began over a year ago, after Oliver himself was inspired after meeting Ryan Campbell who at 19 became the youngest person to fly solo around the world. 

When he first told his friends and family of his grand endeavour he wasn’t initially taken seriously. 

“It was ‘Oh you know good on you’, it was just an idea and not much was thought of it,” Oliver said. 

“But as soon as they could see that we were getting the trip they straight away jumped on board so it was just awesome to have that support.”

Oliver got his full pilot's license just weeks ago when he turned 17, something he needed before the challenge. 

“We’ve been planning it in the hope that I’d pass the license,” he said. 

Oliver said the most challenging aspect of preparing for the trip has been securing the sponsorship for it. 

Over the past three months he has secured $40,000 worth of sponsorship, mostly in kind. 

“The actual flight has been planned over three or four days, it's not actually that big but it’s just trying to get all the sponsors together that's what's really taken time,” he said. 

The first stop on Oliver’s flight plan is in to Launceston, where he will arrive about midday on Sunday. 

On Friday he was still confirming his fuel stops and accommodation, but he was feeling prepared for the upcoming challenge. 

“There is a little bit of nerves but I’m a bit too focused to worry about them,” he said. 

Oliver has scheduled in three rest days over the journey in an attempt to make allowances for unforeseen delays like weather. 

“You can never guess the weather and other factors, [with] the amount of time I’ll be spending inside the plane ... I might just become so tired that I need to take a day or two off,” he said.

Oliver is still seeking the final sponsorship for his flight, anyone wishing to support his endeavour can donate on his GoFundMe webpage ‘Solo 17 Flight Around Australia’.