Around the World in 79 Days

by Chong Yatu

A true passion for flying is apparent from a quick scan of Chinese pilot Zhang Bos social media posts on WeChat Moments. Most of his images feature breathtaking clouds and vast seas viewed from a small blue-and-white propeller plane. In March 2024， Zhang completed his third solo flight around the world， setting a new world record. He was the first Chinese pilot to accomplish the feat alone.

According to the internationally recognized definition， a roundthe-world flight must travel at least 36，787.6 kilometers （the length of the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn） in the same plane across all longitude lines and return to the place where it first took off. This is an extremely challenging task. So far， barely 300 people have accomplished it. Over the past eight years， Zhang has done it three times alone.

A Game for the Brave

On March 11， 2024， a Diamond DA62 twin-engine airplane piloted by Zhang landed at Lewis University Airport in a south suburb of Chicago in the United States， completing his third roundthe-world flight.

Zhang had previously become the first Chinese pilot to complete a round-the-world flight in September 2016 with Beijing as the starting and finishing points. In April 2019， he kicked off his second flight around the world in Chicago and accomplished the mission two months later. He started this adventure to celebrate the 2050 Conference， a gathering for global youth held in Hangzhou， China.

Compared to the previous two journeys， Zhangs third flight around the world was more challenging due to a more complicated route. The journey lasted 79 days and passed more than 30 countries in North America， Europe， Africa， Asia， and Oceania and over the Atlantic， Indian， and Pacific oceans， with a total mileage of 52，572 kilometers.

Already in his 60s， Zhang has now completed three round-theworld flights within just eight years. His lifes work was leading up to it in some ways： In the 1980s， Zhang enrolled in Beijing College of Agricultural Mechanization（renamed Beijing Agricultural Engineering University by the time he graduated and later merged into China Agricultural University alongside Beijing Agricultural University）. After graduation， he entered the State Scientific and Technological Commission of China. Several years later， he resigned from this stable job and went to the United States to work on masters and doctoral degrees. Then， Zhang started his own business in the United States. Due to career success， Zhang was awarded the Outstanding Alumni Award by his alma mater， the University of Illinois. In his 50s， Zhang began to learn to fly and obtained a private pilot license in 58 days， setting a record in the 70-year history of the Institute of Aviation at the University of Illinois. Zhang is always eager to take on new challenges. “When I reached my 60s， I wanted to reevaluate my life and hoped to test my limits by flying，” he said.

Due to the varied routes， Zhang came away with different feelings after every trip around the world. On his third flight， Zhang passed over many countries and regions and was intoxicated by the magnificent natural scenery， diverse cultures， and hospitable people he encountered along the journey. “Flying has deepened my understanding of the importance of building a global community of shared future，” he said. “During the journeys， Ive been impressed by the kindness of the people I met， regardless of nationality， language， and religious belief. Even if I dont understand what theyre saying， I can sense the warmth and sincerity in their faces.”

Meticulous Flight Planning

Since the Wright brothers invented the worlds first airplane in 1903， round-the-world flights have been imagined by every pilot to soar into the clouds. Over the past century， countless brave aviators have sought to accomplish the challenging mission， and many lost their lives trying.

For Zhang， every flight around the world requires great courage and determination. Compared to the previous two round-the-world flights， the third one was more risky because the route passed over several oceans. Many parts of the journey were mapped directly over massive stretches of open sea， with the longest uninterrupted flight spanning more than 4，000 kilometers and taking 16 hours. Any equipment malfunction would require a crash landing at sea. One wrong maneuver could leave the plane in pieces.

However， the challenges and risks didnt deter Zhang， but motivated his morale instead. Before taking off， he would always make meticulous plans based on the weather， wind， fuel capacity， and other factors. He prepared a variety of life-saving equipment and gear including immersion suits and lifeboats.

Zhang must maintain concentration throughout every lengthy flight and keep real-time contact with air traffic controllers.“A round-the-world flight is the ultimate test of a persons willpower and endurance，” he exclaimed. “Facing the mighty power of nature， humans are tiny. We cant fight nature and must respect its laws.”

The challenges and hardships of his third round-the-world flight were self-evident， but the journey was also full of surprises. In between flights， Zhang experienced diving in the Red Sea， tasted delicacies prepared by famous Indian chefs， walked with penguins returning to their nests in Antarctica， and watched the aurora at Invercargill on the southernmost tip of New Zealand. Everything Zhang experienced during the trip bestowed on him a deeper understanding of global cultural diversity.

Another reason Zhang became so obsessed with flying around the world is a hope to inspire more people to join aviation. When Zhang passed over relatively safe continental regions， he invited aviation enthusiasts to board his plane and fly together from the United States to the United Arab Emirates， and from the southernmost point of New Zealand to the northernmost point. Zhang noted that he gained a deeper insight into Chinese peoples love for aviation during the process through close exchange and interactions with many aviation lovers throughout the journey， which solidified his determination to continue promoting trans-global flights.