Louisiana teen aims to fly around the world

Published 9:14 am Monday, July 23, 2018

MONROE, La. (AP) — A Louisiana teenager has begun his effort to become youngest pilot to circumnavigate the globe.

The News Star reports Mason William Andrews took off Sunday from the Monroe Regional Airport.

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.

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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.

His father, Jeb Andrews, says they’ve prepared as much as possible, including going over his son’s plane with a “fine-tooth comb.”