Ethan Guo flies over the mountains in northern Canada during his solo flight around the world. (Xinhua)
by Wang Qiang
DOHA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Despite being only 19 years old, Ethan Guo, a Chinese American, has already flown solo across four continents. His "small goal" is to complete a solo flight around all seven continents in the coming weeks.
On May 31, Guo departed from Memphis, Tennessee. So far, he has flown across four continents - North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia - covering 15 countries and regions. According to the plan, he still has 30 countries and regions to visit, with just 20 days remaining. Along the way, he encountered engine trouble and visa issues.
"Plans often change, and it's uncertain whether I will be able to finish on time," he told Xinhua in Doha on Saturday.
Born in Tianjin, China, Guo spends time between both China and the United States. In the past couple of years, he spent more in the U.S..
Guo began learning to fly in the U.S. at the age of 13, starting with just a one-hour introductory lesson. However, it sparked a dream of flying around the world. He first completed high school early and then began preparing for his journey.
At 17, Guo first obtained his Private Pilot License and then became certified as Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) rated. IFR-rated pilots rely on instruments to navigate and fly during adverse weather conditions.
After that, he began reaching out to companies, seeking sponsorship to support his dream. At first, many companies found it hard to believe, thinking he was just daydreaming. Eventually, some started to back him.
In 2022, Guo first broke the record for the fastest flight around the contiguous U.S., completing the journey in 12 days, surpassing the previous record of 16 days.
However, six months ago, his record was broken by someone else. For him, though, there's no reason to feel discouraged, as his ambitions go far beyond that. His primary goal was to learn, gain experience, and prepare for his round-the-world journey. Additionally, the attempt brought him more attention and helped him secure more sponsorships.
"This round-the-world journey is unprecedented; no one has ever completed it before. I will be the first person to fly solo across all seven continents," he said.
Of course, while flying solo around the world is cool, it's also filled with challenges and dangers.
Last year, when he first tried flying solo around the world, Guo felt close to death when his engine malfunctioned and the plane suddenly started shaking while flying near a mountain. Fortunately, he managed a successful emergency landing.
Flying over the ocean, with no land below for over 3,000 kilometers, adds to the risk. The plane is equipped with a small lifeboat just in case.
"I'm flying a Cessna 182Q, which is 50 years old. Is it safe?" he laughed. "Not much of a choice," he said with a smile. "But the engine is new."
Of course, even if Guo secures this enviable world record, it's not what matters most to him. His true "big goal" is to use this flight to gain visibility and draw attention to childhood cancer, raising funds for research. His cousin was diagnosed with cancer, which had a profound impact on him, motivating him to take action.
"In 2021 my cousin was diagnosed with cancer. I admire him. My cousin and the young kids around the world who are fighting against cancer inspired me to fight on and overcome my fears. I want to use every opportunity to raise awareness of childhood cancer and the necessity to increase research efforts to find prevention and treatment methods," he said.
Because of this goal, all the money Guo raises is directly donated to a renowned U.S. hospital, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. It's a leading children's hospital that treats the toughest childhood cancers and pediatric diseases.
"Life is short, and I want to do as much as I can, to make the world a better place," he said. ■
Ethan Guo refuels in Iceland during his solo flight around the world. (Xinhua)
Ethan Guo is seen the Arctic Circle during his solo flight around the world. (Xinhua)
