17-Yr-Outdated Is Youngest to Fly Across the World

Sofia, Bulgaria —(Map)

On August 24, 17-year-old Mack Rutherford landed his microlight airplane safely again in Bulgaria, finishing a five-month effort to fly around the globe. He has now set the document because the youngest particular person to fly around the globe alone.

Mack, who’s each British and Belgian, is the youthful brother of Zara Rutherford. In January, Ms. Rutherford – as a 19-year-old – set the document for the youngest lady to fly around the globe solo. Ms. Rutherford additionally set the document for the youngest particular person to fly around the globe solo in a microlight airplane.

Now Mack has damaged Ms. Rutherford’s microlight document. He additionally set the document for the youngest particular person to fly around the globe solo (in any form of aircraft), beating 18-year-old English pilot, Travis Ludlow, who set the document final 12 months.

Mack’s flight started in Bulgaria, the place he took off on March 23. He was 16 on the time, however celebrated his birthday throughout his journey around the globe.

Like Ms. Rutherford, he flew in a small, two-seater microlight airplane, capable of fly at speeds of about 186 mph (300 kph). One of many aircraft’s seats was changed with an additional fuel tank, which allowed Mack to cowl longer distances. The aircraft additionally had satellite tv for pc communications that allow Mack keep in contact with folks on the bottom.

Mack’s route took him over Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America. He visited 30 nations in all, and crossed the equator twice – that’s required to set the Guinness World Document. In all, he coated 33,630 miles (54,124 kilometers).

Although Mack anticipated his journey to take two to a few months, he needed to regulate his concepts. In some locations, he had lengthy delays in getting permission to fly. Different issues required main modifications to his flight plan.

Mack additionally confronted a number of different challenges, a lot of them associated to excessive climate. In Sudan, Mack needed to take care of sandstorms and warmth so robust that it melted the glue holding his photo voltaic panel in place. He needed to fly by means of monsoon rains in India, and wound up with water in his gas tanks.

He mentioned crossing the Pacific Ocean was probably the most troublesome a part of the journey. After a 10-hour flight from Japan, he needed to land – simply because it was getting darkish – on an island with nobody else on it. He spent the night time in an outdated shed beside the runway.

Despite all of the troublesome occasions, Mack described the journey as “completely superb”.

Mack’s household has a protracted historical past of flying. Along with his sister, each of his dad and mom are pilots. Mack started flying when he was seven. By the point he was 15, he had change into the world’s youngest pilot. Now that his journey is over, Mack is preparing for one thing far more strange – he’s heading again to highschool.

Mack says he hopes his journey will present younger folks they will make a distinction. “You don’t should be 18 to do one thing particular. Simply comply with your desires and they’ll ultimately come true,” he mentioned.