17-Year-Old Pilot Becomes Youngest Person To Fly Solo Across The World

Rutherford’s flight started in Sofia, Bulgaria when he was 16. He traveled across Africa, the Middle East, Southern and Eastern Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, the Atlantic Ocean and Europe.

The journey lasted about five months, and the young pilot notably turned 17 during the flight. During his multi-continental flight, people could live-track Rutherford and see his location through his website, MackSolo. He also shared periodic updates on Instagram.

 

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The teen completed his trip by landing in Bulgaria on Wednesday, earning two Guinness World Records: one for becoming the youngest person to take a worldwide solo flight and another for being the youngest to globetrot in a microlight plane.

 

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The 17-year-old isn’t the only aviation extraordinaire in his family, as Mack’s sister, Zara Rutherford, made the same trip earlier this year at 19 years old.

“While he was flying, I constantly tried to keep in touch and help him. Our parents called him every day, and I joined in those conversations. I gave him advice on the route, on the flight, so that I could be useful to him,” Zara revealed, according to AP News.

The Rutherford family is full of aeronauts, which inspired Mack to obtain his pilot’s license at only 15 years old, making him the youngest aviator in the world at the time.

“I have been fortunate to have had a family that has been able to help me progress in my flying. But no matter what background you have, I believe it is never too early to work towards your dreams and you shouldn’t limit yourself by others’ expectations,” Mack Rutherford noted, according to MackSolo.

 

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Shoutout to this young globetrotter, and we look forward to hearing about more aviation feats he accomplishes in the future.