Around the world in 155 days: the teenager who flew into record books

Belgian-British Zara Rutherford braved acrid smoke and freezing Siberia on round-the-world journey in two-seater microlight

It should have been perfect flying weather when Zara Rutherford set off from Palo Alto in California for Seattle, a month into her attempt to become the youngest woman to fly solo round the world. But while the skies were clear, wildfires were raging on the ground.

She tried to avoid the towering plumes of acrid smoke by climbing to 12,000ft, but to no avail. I couldn't see in front of me," she said. It was all kind of a brownish, smoky, orange, dirty colour. I could smell the smoke as well, which was quite unpleasant."