A young South African pilot is soaring into the history books — and she’s done it in a proudly home-built South African aircraft.

At just 21 years old, commercial pilot and instructor Shannon Russell has smashed a world altitude record for women in her class of aircraft, taking a Sling TSi to 32 059ft — that’s higher than many passenger jets fly.

But behind her record-breaking achievement is a deeply personal story of a daughter honouring her late father’s legacy.

HOT1027’s Tara Penny has more...