Mac Rutherford, a Belgian-British dual national, landed on an airstrip west of Bulgaria’s capital Sofia to complete his feat and claim two Guinness World Records. Along with becoming the youngest person to fly solo around the world, Rutherford is the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe in a microlight plane. Rutherford said he hoped his achievement would inspire young people to pursue their dreams. “Just follow your dreams, no matter how old you are – work hard and move forward to achieve your goals,” he said after stepping off the plane. His sister Zara, who completed her own round-the-world flight in January aged 19, previously held the ultralight record. Mac Rutherford took the age record from Britain’s Travis Ludlow, who was 18 when he flew solo around the world last year. The trip, which began on March 23, took Rutherford to 52 countries on five continents. He turned 17 during the trip. To set a mark recognized by Guinness World Records, he crossed the equator twice. Born into a family of aviators, Rutherford qualified for his pilot’s license in 2020, making him the youngest pilot in the world at the age of 15. His solo trip around the world started in Bulgaria because his sponsor, web hosting company ICDSoft, is based in Sofia and lent him the plane. Like his sister, Rutherford flew a Shark, one of the fastest ultralight aircraft in the world with a cruising speed of up to 300 km/h (186 mph). Normally a two-seater, it was modified for its long journey by replacing the second seat with an extra fuel tank. Originally planned to take up to three months, the journey took longer due to several unexpected obstacles along the way, including monsoons, sandstorms and extreme heat. However, most delays were caused by waiting to obtain permits and other documents required for onward flight or by having to change the planned route in case of rejection. The flight took him through Africa and the Gulf region to India, China, South Korea and Japan. It crossed the North Pacific and landed after 10 continuous hours in the air on a volcanic island near the Bering Strait. From there, it headed to Alaska and down the west coast of the United States to Mexico. Rutherford then headed north again along the US East Coast to Canada and across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe. On Wednesday, a huge crowd had arrived at the airport to welcome Rutherford and celebrate his achievements. Among them were all three members of his immediate family. His father, Sam Rutherford, said he was extremely happy and proud of his children’s achievements. He told reporters that such an event is highly encouraging for children to follow their dreams and parents to support them in their endeavours. His sister, Zara Rutherford, said she kept in close contact with her younger brother during his journey. “While he was flying, I was constantly trying to keep in touch and help him. Our parents called him every day and I participated in these conversations. I gave him advice about the route, the flight, so I could be of use to him,” he said. McRutherford said he will now focus on his education. “The next thing I’m going to do is go back to school and catch up as much as I can,” he said.
