SEOUL: Teen pilot Zara Rutherford has landed in Seoul, the first Asia stop on her attempt to become the youngest woman to fly around the world solo.
The 19-year-old British-Belgian departed in August from Kortrijk-Wevelgem Airport in western Belgium on her 51,000-kilometre journey, which is to span five continents and 52 countries.
“It has been challenging,” Rutherford told reporters at Gimpo International Airport after arriving from Vladivostok, Russia in her bespoke Shark high-performance 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 anymore, but it’s an adventure.”
Rutherford, who is to remain in a hotel before her planned departure for Taiwan on Monday, said she expects to complete her journey by mid-January.
Her itinerary includes two stops in Thailand. According to her website, she is scheduled to arrive in Phuket on Dec 19 and will have three rest days on the island before taking off for Mae Sot on Dec 23, then departing for Dhaka, Bangladesh the following day.
With enhanced Covid-related travel restrictions, Rutherford said she has sometimes not been allowed to see local places in some countries.
“I’m seeing these places from the air and that is the most incredible thing,” she said. “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.”
Aside from entering the record book, the teenager has expressed hope that her voyage will encourage girls and women to study and work in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education, and spark girls’ interest in aviation.
Rutherford is seeking the title held by Shaesta Wais, who became the youngest woman to fly solo round the world at age 30 in 2017. The youngest male record holder, Mason Andrews, was 18 years old when he made the journey in 2018.
Born to two pilots, Rutherford will start university next year, with the dream of becoming an astronaut.