Mack Rutherford smiles from the cabin of his plane after his arrival at an airport near Radomir, Bulgaria, August 24, 2022. STOYAN NENOV / REUTERS.
After landing in Bulgaria on Wednesday, a 17-year-old pilot became the youngest person to fly solo around the globe in a tiny plane.
Mack Rutherford, a Belgian-British dual citizen, landed on an airport west of Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital, to complete his mission and set two Guinness World Records. Rutherford is the youngest person to fly solo around the world and the youngest person to do it in a microlight aircraft.
Rutherford claimed in the Facebook video after landing safely that he was “trying to demonstrate young people can make a difference.”
“No matter how old you are, just pursue your ambitions – work hard and go ahead to attain your objectives,” he urged as he walked off of the plane.
Zara, his sister, who completed her own world journey in January at the age of 19, formerly held the ultralight record. Mack Rutherford broke the record set by Travis Ludlow of the United Kingdom, who was 18 when he flew solo around the globe last year.
Rutherford’s voyage started on March 23 and carried him to 52 nations on five continents. During the journey, he turned 17 years old. He crossed the equator twice to establish a record certified by Guinness World Records.
The voyage lasted 142 days, covering 33,631 miles (54,124 kilometers) and 221 total hours in the air, according to his Facebook page. Rutherford completed 68 takeoffs and landings, reaching a maximum height of 12,500 feet above Mexico.
Born into an aviation family, Rutherford qualified for his pilot’s license in 2020, making him the world’s youngest pilot at the time at the age of 15.
His solo flight around the globe began in Bulgaria since his sponsor, the web hosting business ICDSoft, is based there and leased him the jet.
Rutherford, like his sister, piloted a Shark, one of the world’s fastest lightweight aircraft, with a cruise speed of 186 mph. It was normally a two-seater, but for his lengthy voyage, the second seat was replaced with an additional gasoline tank.
Originally meant to take up to three months, the journey took much longer due to various unanticipated hurdles along the road, such as monsoon rains, sandstorms, and high heat.
However, the majority of the delays were caused by waiting for permits and other paperwork needed for additional flights, or by having to change the planned itinerary if they were denied.
He flew from Africa and the Gulf area to India, China, South Korea, and Japan. He flew across the northern Pacific for 10 hours before landing on a volcanic island near the Bering Strait.
From there, he traveled to Alaska before continuing down the West Coast of the United States to Mexico. Rutherford then continued north through the United States’ East Coast to Canada, and then across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe.
On Wednesday, a large throng had gathered at the airport to greet Rutherford and celebrate his accomplishments. There were three members of his close family among them.
His father, Sam Rutherford, expressed his joy and pride in his children’s accomplishments. He told reporters that such an event inspires youngsters to pursue their aspirations and parents to support them in their pursuits.
Zara Rutherford, his sister, claimed she maintained in contact with her younger brother during his travels.
“I attempted to stay in contact with him and assist him while he was flying. Every day, our parents phoned him, and I listened in on their talks. I advised him on the route and the flight so that I might be of assistance to him “She said.
Mack Rutherford said that he would now concentrate on his schooling.
“The next step is for me to return to school and catch up as much as I can,” he stated.
