In August, the 19-year-old British-Belgian departed from Kortrijk-Wevelgem airport in western Belgium for her 51,000 km journey, which will span five continents and 52 countries, including the United States, Russia and Colombia.
“It was a challenge,” Rutherford told reporters at Gimpo International Airport after arriving from Vladivostok in her custom-built Shark ultralight aircraft, the world’s fastest ultralight microlight.
“I was stuck in Alaska for a month because of visa and weather problems and I was stuck in Russia for a month because of visa and weather problems,” she said. “I was hoping to finish it before Christmas, but I don’t think that will happen again, but it’s an adventure.”
Rutherford, who is due to stay at the hotel before her scheduled departure to Taiwan on Monday, said she expects to complete her trip by mid-January.
With improved Covid-related travel restrictions, Rutherford said she was sometimes barred from seeing local places in some countries.
“I see these places from the air and that’s the most incredible thing,” she said. “While I don’t always get to visit, walk around and view museums and restaurants, I can always see them from the air and it’s pretty incredible.”
Aside from taking the record book, the teen has expressed hopes that her journey will encourage girls and women to study and work in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), and spark girls’ interest in aviation. .
Rutherford is seeking the title from Shaesta Wais, who in 2017 became the youngest woman to fly solo around the world at the age of 30. The youngest male record holder, Mason Andrews, was 18 years old when he made the trip in 2018.
Rutherford, the daughter of two pilots, is going to college next year with a dream of becoming an astronaut.
Photo of Rutherford by NICOLAS MAETERLINCK/BELGA/AFP via Getty Images
