At just 18 years old, Lachie Smart became the youngest pilot to fly solo around the world — a record-breaking journey of 45,000 kilometres, 24 countries, and 54 days alone in a single-engine plane. But this conversation goes deeper than the headline.

In this full interview with Sam Penny on Why’d You Think You Could Do That?, Lachie reveals how an ordinary teenager with no money, no flying background, and no certainty turned a kitchen-table spark into a world record. You’ll hear:

• The moment at 15 when he first declared, “I’m going to fly around the world”
• A year of rejection and sponsorship failures — and the pitch that finally worked
• The near-crash over Tasmania that almost ended the mission before it began
• Crossing the Pacific solo: fatigue, fear, and 13 hours with nowhere to land
• Bureaucratic battles, bribery attempts, and the kindness that broke him open in Sri Lanka
• The decision to trust his own eyes over air traffic control in Indonesia
• The emotional homecoming — and why he says “we,” not “I,” when he tells this story
• What life was really like after the record: the post-goal slump and the surprising lesson of empathy

Lachie’s story isn’t about being fearless. It’s about what happens when you keep moving forward with fear right beside you.

📍 Explore Lachie’s guest hub: sampenny.com/lachie-smart

If this episode sparked something in you, don’t keep it to yourself — share it with a friend who needs to hear that bravery doesn’t wait for permission. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss the next conversation that could be the spark for your own impossible.

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