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2022.02.17 02:30 GMT+8

Sibling rivalry in the skies for flying world record

Updated 2022.02.17 02:30 GMT+8
Patrick Rhys Atack

British-Belgian teenager Mack Rutherford is setting off in his single-seater plane next month to try to beat the record for the youngest solo pilot to circumnavigate the globe. 

What makes the 16-year-old's attempt even more remarkable is the current round-the-world record holding pilot is his elder sister. 

Zara Rutherford is 19 and completed her flight in January at Kortrijk-Wevelgem Airport in Belgium. 

She flew 51,000 kilometers over 52 nations in the world's fastest microlight aircraft.

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From Cain and Abel, via the Gallagher brothers and the Kardashian clan, sibling rivalries are nothing new, especially at the top. 

But the Rutherford's are determined not to join that club. 

"Actually couldn't have done it without her. I always knew I wanted to do something special in my aviation career, but it's only after Zara flew around the world that I knew, yes, this is what I want to do. This is an amazing thing. And so she actually helped me bring me to this point," Mack explained. 

And Zara? 

"We're really supportive of each other, making sure that we can help others break our records as much as possible. So if my brother will be breaking my record of the youngest person to fly around the world in a microlight, I'm really excited. I think it's going to be really cool," she added.

Video editor: Terry Wilson

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