In January 2022, the now l7-year-old Mack Rutherford watched his 19-year-old sister, Zara Rutherford, set two new world records for flying around the world in an ultralight aircraft. Less than a month later, Mack declared his intention to go for a world record too!
"I always knew I wanted to do something special in my life in aviation but I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do, it was only when my sister flew around the world that I knew this was what I wanted to do," Mack said.
Mack is no stranger to aviation. He was only 15 when he became the youngest pilot in the world. Now, he's set the record for the youngest person to fly around the world, replacing previous record-holder Travis Ludlow of Britain. Travis was 18 when he set the record in
2021.
Mack's journey began on March 23rd, 2022 when he left Sofia, Bulgaria flying a Shark, an ultralight aircraft that's the same style his sister used in her circumnavigation of the globe.
"I am flying a Shark," Mack wrote on his website. "It is a high-performance ultralight aircraft made in Europe. The aircraft has been specially prepared for such a long journey."
Mack traveled through 52 countries over five continents. The trip was supposed to take between two and three months, but paperwork and visa issues slowed his progress.
On August 24, 2022, Mack completed his journey and set not one, but two new world records! He's now the youngest person to fly around the world solo. He displaced his sister as the previous record holder, but we're sure there are no hard feelings!
As Mack stepped out of the aircraft in Belgium, he had some simple words of wisdom to offer the world.
"Just follow your dreams, no matter how old you are — work hard and move forward to achieve your goals," he said.
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