17-year-old becomes youngest pilot to fly solo around world

Read Time:2 Minute, 33 Second

The aircraft of Mack Rutherford approaches Sofia West Airport in Bulgaria, on Aug. 24, 2022. Mack Rutherford, 17, landed in Sofia on Wednesday after he broke the current world record for the youngest pilot to fly solo around the globe.

His achievement was duly recognized by the Guinness World Records, which handed him two certificates immediately after landing: for the youngest (male) person to circumnavigate the world by aircraft solo, and the youngest (male) person to circumnavigate the planet in a microlight plane solo.

Rutherford took off from Sofia on March 23 this year and got again here after flying through 52 countries and logging up around 250 hours of flying time. (Photo by Marian Draganov/Xinhua)

SOFIA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) — Mack Rutherford, 17, arrived here on Wednesday after he broke the current world record for the particular youngest pilot to travel solo around the world.

His achievement was properly recognized by the Guinness World Records, which passed him two certificates immediately after landing: for the youngest (male) person in order to circumnavigate the world by aircraft solo, and the particular youngest (male) person to circumnavigate the world in a microlight plane solo.

Rutherford took off from Sofia on March 23 this year plus landed again here right after flying through 52 countries and logging up around 250 hours of soaring time.

Bulgaria was the starting and ending point of his journey due to the sponsorship of Bulgarian company ICDSoft.

His five-month trip and the particular fact that he departed from and arrived in Bulgaria were “absolutely amazing, ” Rutherford told reporters after landing. “I am really happy.

This was a very exciting, very interesting trip. inch

There were several “hairy” moments during his journey, he said, but he never gave up

Rutherford, a Belgian-British aviator, was born on June 21, 2005, so he turned 17 during the trip. He has lived all their life in Belgium.

“I have known for certain I wanted to fly since I was 11, having flown hundreds associated with hours with my dad, who is a professional pilot, ” he said.

“When I has been 15 years and three months old, I received my microlight pilot’s license making me at the time the youngest pilot in the world. Since then, I have also flown two trans-Atlantic crossings. ” ■

Mack Rutherford waves after landing at Sofia West Airport in Bulgaria, on Aug. 24, 2022. Mack Rutherford, 17, landed in Sofia on Wednesday after he broke the present world record for the youngest pilot in order to fly solo around the particular world.

Their achievement was duly recognized by the Guinness World Records, which handed him two certificates immediately after landing: for the youngest (male) individual to circumnavigate the entire world by aircraft solo, plus the youngest (male) person to circumnavigate the entire world within a microlight plane single.

Rutherford became popular from Sofia on 03 23 this year and landed again here right after flying through 52 nations and logging up close to 250 hours of traveling time. (Photo by Marian Draganov/Xinhua)