Teenager embarked on solo flight to raise funds for cancer research lands in Mumbai

After nine decades since 1933, Wiley Post set the record to become the first aviator to complete a solo flight around the globe. The nature and purpose of him flying alone in an unpressurised aircraft, travelling across time zones, has changed drastically. The earlier solo flights were to set records like man flies solo, woman flies solo, fastest solo, longest solo, and even solar-powered solo.

On May 31, when 19-year-old Ethan Guo set off on a solo flight from Memphis, US, his mission was not about creating a record to be the first person solo to fly across the seven continents, but it was to raise awareness and funds for cancer research.



On September 6, Guo landed in Mumbai from Karachi. His initial plan was to land in Delhi, but the permissions and paperwork to land in India's busiest airport were tough to procure. "Flying is the easy part. It's the paperwork that is challenging," Guo tells TOI. "I wanted a halt in Dhaka, but they denied permission citing political reasons," he says.

Gau spends a few days meeting cancer patients and doctors at every stop he makes. He also chats with people to learn about local culture, traditions, and beliefs, like a tourist. He will fly to Kolkata this week.

His total solo journey will cover over 50,000 miles with more than 75 take-offs and landings across 60 countries.

Guo aims to raise $1 million to support St Jude Children's Research Hospital, US. What is his source of funds while flying solo for cancer research? "People read news reports about my flight and those who want to contribute go to the link on my website (flightagainstcancer.com)," he says. So far, he has raised $40,000.

The Tianjin-born, Florida resident home-schooled himself from the age of 13 so that he could find time to fly. He was sending emails to prospective sponsors for his 7 continents trip from that age. "I didn't know how to write an email; it was more like a text message. I received over 100 letters of rejection; even the insurance companies opted out. I learnt how difficult it is to raise money," he says.


He found enough sponsors last September and was set to begin his trip, but his 43-year-old Cessna-182 aircraft suffered an engine failure and needed an overhaul. He had to procure an engine in October, 2023 by calling up suppliers around the world as his engine manufacturer put him on a waiting list due to the pandemic-led spare parts shortage. But then he came down with Covid-19 himself.

Finally, he began his trip from the US in May this year, but for the Guinness World Record, the journey from Geneva will be considered. He says, "If there are no hurdles, there is no fun in doing it, right?"

He is on a bare essentials trip. The aircraft is retrofitted with extra fuel tanks that allow him to stay airborne for 17 hours without the need to refuel like the ultra-long haul jets that fly non-stop between India and the US.

Guo has no support team, except for a photographer whom he met in Geneva and decided to come along. The aircraft has basic instruments for navigation. He wears a dry suit, carries a life jacket, a satellite phone that transmits his location every five minutes, and a portable emergency locator transmitter that would help track the location of his aircraft in case of an accident.

The tricky weather has been the toughest part of the journey. His aircraft has no weather radar. To compensate, Guo consults all manner of weather reports, satellite images, charts, and aviation meteorology reports issued by airports at the destination, en route, and arrival.

In Geneva itself, a ten-minute positioning flight turned out to be a disaster with an approaching storm, rain, and hailstones. The real test, though, would be the flight from Chile to Antarctica. But the paperwork for that is still in progress.