Mack Rutherford is aiming to become the youngest person to fly solo around the world
(Picture: Macksolo.com)A 16-year-old pilot is aiming to become the youngest person to fly solo around the world after his 19-year-old sister became the youngest woman to complete the feat.
Mack Rutherford, who has dual British and Belgian nationality, is doing plane manoeuvres at the Biggin Hill Airfield in Bromley on Tuesday before embarking on his adventure on Friday, March 18.
The epic trip, with more than 60 stops on five continents, is expected to take three months.
It comes after Mack’s 19-year-old sister Zara became the youngest woman to fly solo around the world in January.
Mr Rutherford, whose parents are both pilots, said: “There are many people of my age who do amazing things. Often few people know about them.”
He added: “I have been fortunate to have had a family that has been able to help me progress in my flying. But no matter what the 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 will begin his trip in Sofia, Bulgaria, before flying south to Africa and visiting Congo, Madagascar and Mauritius.
He will then head north to Oman, UAE and east to Kazakhstan and across Russia.
He will cross the Bering Strait into Alaska and continue along the west coast of America to Mexico.
Then he will head north along the east coast to Canada before crossing the Atlantic and finishing his journey in Sofia.
If successful, Mack - who lives in Belgium - will shatter two Guinness World Records.
He will break the records for the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe solo and the youngest person to do so in a microlight aircraft.
Travis Ludlow became the youngest person to fly solo around the world in a single-engine aircraft in January, 2021.
The 18-year-old, from Ibstone, Buckinghamshire, ended his trip in the Netherlands, having spent 44 days completing the 24,900-mile journey.
