Qld aviator, 18, on track for record bid

Sunshine Coast teenager Lachlan Smart is progressing as planned in his bid to become the youngest person to fly solo around the world.

Early Friday morning (AEST) Smart departed American Samoa on his way to Kiribati, in the central Pacific Ocean, which will be the third of his 24 stops.

The 18-year-old, who began his eight to 10-week journey on Monday, is piloting a Cirrus SR22 single-engine aircraft.

He is due to touchdown in Kiribati about midday and will stay one night before making his way to Hilo, Hawaii.

Smart's communications manager Andrew Musgrave said there was enough time factored into the record attempt to allow for any delays or issues with weather.

"It should take about seven-and-a-half-weeks but there is time within his schedule that if he falls a day behind, due to weather or whatever, he can make it up further into the trip," Mr Musgrave told AAP.

The record attempt is titled Wings Around the World and Smart is expected to cover almost 45,000km.

There were originally 26 stops in the schedule but that was reduced to 24 after Smart removed the rear seats in the single engine aircraft to make way for a 680-litre fuel tank.

The additional fuel tank allows him to fly up to 16 hours on each leg of his record attempt.

If successful he will become the youngest person in history to circumnavigate the globe solo in a single-engine aircraft.

The record is held by American Matt Guthmiller, from South Dakota, who was 19 years, seven months and 15 days, when he completed his six-week journey of more than 46,600km in 2014.

On Monday, when Smart set off on his journey, Guthmiller tweeted: "2 yrs ago I spent the 4th flying 10hrs over the Australian Outback. Today @WATW2016 set out. Wishing him the best!".

Smart is expected to touch down on the Sunshine Coast in late August.