Lachie Smart

Adventurer. World Record Holder. Average Teen.

In August 2016 Lachie Smart returned from an epic around the world aviation adventure placing him as a world record holder. He is now the youngest person to fly solo around the world in a single engine aircraft at just 18 years of age.

Born in 1998 on the Sunshine Coast, Australia, Lachie Smart always showed a tendency towards achieving high goals. Learning to read young meant an early start to school at Nambour Christian College where he completed all his schooling from preschool to year 12, graduating at the age of 16. During his years at NCC Lachie also became a part of the school’s top two bands: The Wind Symphony; and the Stage (Jazz) Band, playing the trombone whilst also studying the piano externally.

In 2012, Lachie Smart joined the Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) where he worked his way to a leadership position. His roles included instructing other cadets in several areas including aviation, field activities and ‘drill and ceremonial’ until resigning from the organization in late 2016. 2012 was also the beginning of Lachie’s aviation training with his trial introductory flight out of Caboolture airfield.

At the age of 16 Lachie went for his first solo flight under the supervision of Aero Dynamic Flight Academy at Sunshine Coast Airport. Not long after, at age 17 Lachie achieved his Private Pilot’s License as well as his instrument rating along with a number of other endorsements.

Additionally to academics, music and aviation, sport was never left out of Lachie’s upbringing with 10 years of soccer including local and representative teams claiming state titles and travelling to New Zealand.