Solo Airplane Flight

Around the World

 
 
 
 

Vocabulary

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Video: Up to 2:50

 

 
 
 
 

Transcript

News Anchor: Now a British-Belgian teenager has become the youngest woman ever to fly solo around the world. After a five months journey Zara Rutherford is back on terra firma in Belgium.

We’ll be speaking to Zara in just a minute. But first, a look at her record-breaking time in the air.

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There was no cabin crew on board to prepare for this landing. As 19-year-old Zara Rutherford touched down in Belgium, she became the youngest woman in history to fly solo around the world and the youngest person to do so in a micro light aircraft.

A hero’s welcome awaited her.

Zara Rutherford, Pilot: “I’m really happy to be here. It’s been a crazy trip — five months long. And even this last fight was pretty tricky.

So it’s been a challenge the whole way through.”

Rutherford’s around the world flight spanned five continents and covered 52,000 kilometers. She raised money through sponsorship and often stayed with host families.

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Zara shared the highs and lows of her adventure online. The trip took much longer than expected — and there were moments of turbulence.

Zara Rutherford, Pilot: “Right now, my Russian visa has just expired, so I’m actually not allowed to go into the country which is frustrating . . .

North Korea is over that way. I’m not allowed to get too close to it because they don’t like small airplanes flying around . . .

I’m really happy on the ground, to be honest. The first little bit was fine — and then suddenly the clouds started getting lower and lower . . . I think at the at one point, I was at 600 feet (183 meters) above the ocean which was pretty scary.”

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Beyond breaking records, Zara had a bigger mission: meeting locals and giving talks along the way she tried to inspire other girls and young women to get involved in aviation, science and technology.

Back on Belgian soil, that work continues.

Zara Rutherford, Pilot: “Growing up I didn’t see many other female pilots i’m kind of hoping to be a friendly face. And yeah I’ve gotten some amazing messages from both girls and women just saying that they’ve started flying after seeing what I’ve been doing which is really good.

Journalist: “Do you think you achieved your mission?”
Zara Rutherford, Pilot: “I think so. I like to think so. Yeah!”

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It was an emotional reunion for Zara’s mother Beatrice who says there were some nail-biting moments.

Beatrice De Smet, Zara’s Mother: “Of course this is not without risk. She is breaking a record, after all. But i was very confident in Zara’s skills and her experience. And also in in the team and the whole team behind her. And that we kept it as safe as possible.”

Barely out of high school, Zara Rutherford plans to keep her feet on solid ground for now and apply for university.

But she hopes her double world record will encourage girls everywhere to spread their wings in any way they can.

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Questions

Airplane. In the report, a large airplane full of passengers and crew flew from New York to London. True or false?

Propeller Plane, Jet Plane. Did Zara Rutherford break some world records? Is Zara a 42 year-old man? Did she fly with a co-pilot, her boyfriend? Is she Canadian?

Helicopter. When Zara completed her journey, only her family met her at the airport. Is this right or wrong?

Rocket, Spaceship, Module. Did Zara fly 41,000 km around the world in three days? Did she fly straight along the equator?

Space Station. Zara financed her journey through her blog, and she stayed in five-star hotels. Is this correct or incorrect?

Raft, Rowboat, Canoe, Kayak. Could she fly through any country? Was her flight entirely smooth, perfect and easy?

Sailboat, Yacht. Does Zara want lots of money? Does she encourage young people to become social media celebrities?

Tanker, Cargo Ship, Cargo Vessel. Will she now go to Hollywood and become an actress?
 
 
 
Bicycle, Unicycle, Tricycle. I have flown in an airplane. Yes or no? How was it? Was it fun? Do you enjoy flying on airplanes?

Moped, Scooter. Have you flown in a small airplane? Do you know anyone who has flown in a small airplane? Do you know anyone who is a pilot?

Motorcycle. I would like to own and fly an airplane. I would like to travel around the world.

Car, Automobile, Truck, Bus. What might happen in the future?

Train. Should more girls and women fly airplanes and become astronauts?