He’s trying to become the youngest pilot to circumnavigate the globe.
MONROE — A Louisiana teenager has begun his effort to become the youngest pilot to circumnavigate the globe.
The News Star reports Mason William Andrews took off Sunday from the Monroe Regional Airport in a Piper PA-32R-300.
Andrews is 18 years and about four months old. The flight should take between 30 and 40 days, so he’s got a chance to beat the record of Lachlan Smart, an Australian, who completed his flight in 2016 at the age of 18 years, 7 months and 21 days.
You can track his flight online at FlightAware.com and Flightradar24.com. If he’s not in the air, check the flight history. As of Sunday night, he had made it to Wisconsin. His plane registration number is N7278C.
Wishing the best to [?] @LaTechAviation [?] student Mason Andrews as he takes off on his courageous trip to be the youngest solo pilot to circumnavigate the globe. All for the benefit of [?] @MedCamps [?] of LA. Hope you can support him! #LATech https://t.co/3sawGRLeEp pic.twitter.com/TDlOIz5Tpq
Andrews says weather is his biggest concern.
Andrews studies professional aviation at Louisiana Tech University, and told KSLA he wants his trip to show kids they can follow their dreams. He started a GoFundMe campaign to raise the $125,000 he says is needed for the trip. He said anything over the goal will go to Med Camps of Louisiana, which offers free camps for children with physical and mental disabilities.
His father, Jeb Andrews, says they’ve prepared as much as possible, including going over his son’s plane with a « fine-tooth comb. »
