19-year-old Zara Rutherford aims for Seoul in record solo-flight attempt

SEOUL, Dec 12

Teen pilot Zara Rutherford was set to arrive in Seoul on Saturday from Russia, the first Asia stop on her 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 51,000-km (32,000-mile) journey, which is to span five continents and 52 countries, including the United States, Greenland, Russia and Colombia.

Rutherford’s arrival from Vladivostok in her bespoke Shark ultralight plane, the world’s fastest microlight, was delayed for a month due to bad weather. She is to hold a news conference at Gimpo International Airport in the afternoon, then remain at her hotel before her planned departure for Taiwan on Monday.

The teenager has expressed hope her voyage will encourage girls and women to study and work in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), and spark girls’ interest in aviation.

Rutherford is seeking the title held by from 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. Reuters