She made it work for her family, herself and her children and gave it to all young women who want to succeed in male-dominated fields like aviation and the exact sciences that are driving the industry.
It is possible. It is a long and difficult journey that requires patience and a lot work. But it is worth it." She said after an experience that brought her many thrills and scares, from the Siberian frozen tundra to the Philippines' typhoons to the stunning beauty of the Arabian Desert.
Her Shark microlight one-seater plane was once suffocated by the smell of California wildfires. She flew alone over desolate landscapes and seas, often avoiding any rescue attempts. She was forced to live in isolation for weeks in Ayan, a tiny Siberian village.
Nothing was as touching as Thursday's hug with her brother and parents, pilot parents.
Beatrice, her mother, said that they would celebrate the occasion together as a family. Zara would like to celebrate by sleeping for about two weeks.
She will be in Guinness World Records when she wakes up. The mark was previously held by Shaesta Waiz, a 30-year-old American pilot.
Rutherford will not be able to break the overall record as Briton Travis Ludlow, an 18-year old, set it last year.
Although her global flight was supposed take three months, she was unable to fly due to persistent bad weather and visa issues. This caused her to be grounded for several weeks, which extended her journey by approximately two months.
On Thursday, the weather was all-changing, with rain, drizzle and sunshine. Even a rainbow was visible over Kortrijk Airport.
After being escorted in a four-plane formation across large parts of Belgium, she flew past the airport before landing. After wavering to the cheering crowds, she wore both the Union Jack flag and the Belgian tricolor flag.
She travelled more than 52,000 km (28,000 miles) and stopped on five continents, stopping at 41 countries.
Rutherford flew through California's wildfires, dealt with the biting cold over Russia, and narrowly avoided North Korean airspace. Visual Flight Rules were her method of flying. This meant she flew on sight, sometimes slowing down progress, even though more advanced systems could have helped her navigate through fog and clouds.
She feared for her safety at times, while other times she just wanted to return home and enjoy the comforts of home. She has been flying since she was 6 years old, and her parents are both pilots. She began flying at age 14
Soon, her dream of flying around the globe became a reality.
"But it was impossible to imagine." She said that she thought it was too hard, too dangerous, and too expensive.
Sponsorship and contributions paid for the money. She was responsible for the difficulty and danger.
It was perfectly timed to be between high school and university.
She said, "I thought, actually," that this was the best opportunity to fly around the globe and do something insane.
The final touchdown will allow the teenager to inspire young girls around the world with the love of aviation and a passion for engineering and science.
She hopes to travel to the United States or Britain in September to study electrical engineering.
