Teen pilot conquers the world
Australian aviator Lachlan Smart says he would have been scraped off the side of an Indonesian mountain had he obeyed local air traffic controllers during his successful attempt to become the youngest person to fly solo around the world in a single-engine aircraft.
The Sunshine Coast teenager ignored regional traffic controllers in Indonesia and chose his own route as he navigated the country because of misguided instructions.
‘‘There were no major failures of equipment . . . but I did have trouble with air traffic control coming out of Indonesia,’’ he said.
He said poor radio reception and a ‘‘blase’’’ attitude were problems.
‘‘They would have run me into a mountain if I had gone with their instructions.’’
Smart set a new record for being the youngest person to fly solo around the world in a singleengine aircraft when he touched down at Maroochydore yesterday. He departed the same airstrip on July 4.
Smart, who is 18 years, seven months and 21 days old, stopped in 24 locations and 15 countries on his way to taking the Guinness World Record from American Matt Guthmiller, who completed his circumnavigation A5 when he was aged 19 years, seven months and 15 days. Guthmiller sent Smart messages of encouragement during the flight.
Smart travelled more than 44,000 kilometres on his epic journey, which included more than a week’s break visiting family and sightseeing in London.
The Nambour resident hopes his achievement will inspire other teenagers to think big. He has started a business, Young Achievers International, to help people to reach their goals.
‘‘The whole reason I did this trip was to hopefully motivate other people to achieve great things as well,’’ he said.
Smart, who is studying for a business and aviation qualification, has no plans to be a commercial pilot.
‘‘The repetitiveness of flying the same routes and plan would wear off on me and lose the magic of aviation,’’ he said. ‘‘I’d like to get into executive flying and flying VIPs around in small jets.’’