Queensland teenager Lachie Smart has arrived in the United Kingdom after flying his SR22 from St Johns in Canada to Biggin Hill via the Azores.
In doing so, Smart has become the youngest person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
Originally, he planned to cross the Atlantic via Iceland and Scotland, however, a deteriorating weather forecast showed increased chances of icing, so he went via the Azores instead, a string of islands 1300 km west of Portugal.
Extended family met the young adventurer on his arrival at Biggin Hill, the place where his family’s involvement in aviation began. Both his great-grandfathers flew in the Royal Air Force during World War II.
Smart will now have an 11-day break in the UK to get the Cirrus SR22 serviced and explore his family's aviation heritage, before continuing on his around-the-world journey on 6 August when he flies out to Cannes in France.
Lachie is due home to Sunshine Coast on Friday 26 August, at which time he will become the youngest person to fly solo around the world, beating the USA's Jack Guthmiller by one year.
Follow Lachie on the Wings Around the World website.