Flight Around the World
TRANSCRIPT
Flight Around the World
NARRATOR:
When things go wrong, it is important to stay calm and find a solution. Mack Rutherford is a British-Belgian teenage pilot. He is close to finishing his flight around the world in a small plane. Mack has travelled across 52 countries and five continents. But the trip has not been easy. The journey was planned to be shorter, but Mack has had many delays. He has had to change his route because of bad weather and plans that did not work. He has also been stuck in different places because of paperwork problems.
SOUNDBITE - Mack Rutherford:
"It was supposed to take between 2 to 3 months and it's been five months now. And the reason for that was I was stuck in Crete for a month and a half and then also in Dubai for a month and a half. And that really, because of paperwork issues, visas, permits, things like that, and that really sort of made it go longer."
NARRATOR:
Mack is not the only pilot in his family. His sister, Zara Rutherford, has also flown around the world alone. She was the youngest woman to do this at 19. Now, Mack has broken the record for the youngest person. He turned 17 during the trip. Their father is very proud.
SOUNDBITE - Sam Rutherford:
"They've both done extremely well. They have gone around the world safely, effectively, professionally. And they've shown to other youngsters that you don't have to be 18 even, and certainly not 30, to make a difference and do something and follow your dreams."
NARRATOR:
After more than 200 hours of flying, Mack has finished his journey.
SOUNDBITE - Mack Rutherford:
"So I’m feeling incredible to have finally, after five months, I’ve done my journey. And yeah, I’m really happy"
NARRATOR:
This adventure has helped him solve problems better.
SOUNDBITE - Mack Rutherford:
“I feel much more confident now, particularly in aviation situations. So I am much more able to look at a problem and just work toward the solution than I might otherwise have been."
NARRATOR:
Mack did not give up, and he learned a lot along the way.