Mack Rutherford

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Mack Rutherford (born 21 June 2005) is a British-Belgian aviator. On 24 August 2022, under the name Macksolo, he became the youngest person ever to fly solo around the world (and first ever minor/under eighteen years old). He holds four Guinness World Records:^[1] These include youngest person to fly solo around the world - previously held by Travis Ludlow, and, youngest person to fly a microlight solo around the world - previously held by his sister Zara Rutherford.

His successful record attempt received significant global exposure for his mission explaining that young people make a difference^[2][3][4] .

His planned departure in March 2022 and solo flight was made significantly more complicated with the outbreak of the Ukrainian-Russian war in February 2022. His intended route and permits had to be altered multiple times to adapt to the new geo-political circumstances.

His longest and most difficult flight took him 10h over the icy waters of the Northern Pacific Ocean, from Kushiro, Japan, to Attu island, USA, an uninhabited island where he had to land due to unexpected headwinds and the sun setting.^[5][6][7] He spent the night in an abandoned shed on the runway of this former US Coast guard station, before continuing his journey over the Aleutian Islands to mainland Alaska.

The journey was originally expected to take about 2.5 months, but in the end, it took 5 months and a day. On 24 August 2022, he landed back at his starting point: Sofia West, an airfield close to the capital of Sofia, Bulgaria, where his, (and also his sister's main) sponsor ICDSoft is based.

On 12 September 2022, the Honourable Company of Air Pilots announced that Mack Rutherford, jointly with his sister Zara Rutherford, had been awarded the Master's Medal "in recognition of his amazing feat of flying and endurance".^[8][9] Previous recipients, include Sir Richard Branson, Bertrand Piccard, Polly Vacher, Andre Borschberg, Tim Peak and James Ketchall among many others.

On 20 January 2022 Mack was honoured at the annual Awards of the Living Legends of Aviation with the "Barron Hilton Aviation Inspiration Award".^[10] The event took place at the International Ballroom of The Beverly Hilton, where Golden Globes are awarded, and was hosted by pilot and aviation enthusiast John Travolta.^[11] He received his award from the hands of Living Legend Julie Clark. Other attendees included, among others, aviators and "Living Legends of Aviation" Buzz Aldrin, William Shatner, Shane Lundgren and Hamish Harding.

In 2023, the Royal Automobile Club’s Segrave Trophy was presented for the year 2022 to Mack Rutherford (and his sister Zara) the youngest person and youngest woman, respectively, to circumnavigate the globe^[12]. The Segrave Trophy is awarded to the British national who demonstrates "Outstanding Skill, Courage and Initiative on Land, Water and in the Air". The trophy is named in honour of Sir Henry Segrave, the first person to hold both the land and water speed records simultaneously^[13].

Just like his sister, he is currently reading at Stanford University, in Palo Alto, California^[14].

Mack's father Sam Rutherford, is an ex-military helicopter with the British Army, has organised adventurous flying rally's and expeditions such as the Crete2Cape VintageAirRally , crossing the whole of Africa with vintage biplanes and the Zoute Air Trophy, landing STOL planes on a Belgian beach. He is also a professional ferry pilot. Several other relatives have been pilots as well.^[15][16].

• List of circumnavigations