Teen makes 1st Asia stop in bid for female solo flight record

SEOUL • Teen pilot Zara Rutherford landed in South Korean capital Seoul yesterday from Russia, in her first Asia stop in an attempt to become the youngest woman to fly around the world solo.

In August, the 19-year-old British-Belgian departed from Kortrijk-Wevelgem Airport in western Belgium on her 51,000km journey, which is to span five continents and 52 countries, including the United States, Russia and Colombia.

"It has been challenging," she told reporters at Seoul's Gimpo International Airport after arriving from Russian city Vladivostok in her bespoke Shark ultralight plane, the world's fastest microlight.

"I was stuck in Alaska because of visa and weather issues for a month and I was stuck in Russia for a month because of visa and weather issues," she said.

"I was hoping to complete it by Christmas but I guess that's not happening any more. But it's an adventure."

Ms Rutherford, who is to remain in her hotel before her planned departure for Taiwan tomorrow, said she expects to complete her journey by mid-January.

She said that with enhanced coronavirus-related travel restrictions, she has sometimes not been allowed to see local places in some countries.

"Although I'm not always allowed to go and visit, walk around and check out museums and restaurants, I can always see them from the air and it's pretty incredible," she said.

Aside from entering the record books, the teenager has expressed hope that her voyage will encourage girls and women to study and work in Stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and spark girls' interest in aviation.

Ms Rutherford is seeking the title held by Ms Shaesta Wais, who became the youngest woman to fly solo round the world - at age 30 - in 2017.

The youngest male record holder, Mr Mason Andrews, was 18 years old when he made the journey in 2018.

 

Born to two pilots, Ms Rutherford will start university next year, with the dream of becoming an astronaut.

 

REUTERS