On 20 January 2022, Zara Rutherford landed in Kortrijk-Wevelgem, Belgium, after her 155-day 60-stop solo trip.
Adverse weather caused the flight to take over 2 months longer than planned, including delays of a month in Alaska and even longer in Russia. She flew about 27,500 NM (~51,000 km), spending ~260 hrs airborne.
Zara's Czechoslovak Shark ultralight aircraft has a tandem 2-seat cockpit. Composite-built, its maximum weight is 600 kg - the maximum for an ultralight; wingspan is 7.9 m and the undercarriage retracts. The Rotax 100 HP engine and variable-pitch prop give an optimum cruising speed of around 140 kt (260 km/hr). Fuel capacity is 100 l and economic cruise uses around 15 l/hr.
Both British/Belgian-born Zara's parents are aviators and she considers them and her grandparents to be role models. She has 4 A-levels in maths, physics and economics subjects and hopes to go to university to study computer science/engineering. Her aims are to encourage girls and young women to pursue their dreams and to promote aviation and science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) subjects. She points out that only 5% of commercial pilots and 15% of computer scientists are women. She holds FAA and UK private pilot licences plus Slovakian and French microlight licences and is a member of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots. She apparently dreams of becoming an astronaut.
The challenge was made possible by sponsors, including her former school, St Swithun's School, Winchester, and others depicted on her aircraft. She was closely monitored by a team back home.
We congratulate Zara on her remarkable achievement.
Email to a Friend