For 19-year-old Ethan Guo, flying is not just a passion, it’s a mission. The young Asian-American pilot is using his love of aviation for a noble cause: raising funds for childhood cancer research and a cure for the “Big C Warrior.”
Guo is trying to set a world record by becoming the youngest person to fly solo across the seven continents in a small plane. In addition to the title, he aims to raise $1 million by visiting hospitals and meeting young patients in almost every country.
“I want to take every opportunity to raise awareness of childhood cancer and highlight the need for increased research efforts to prevent and cure cancer. Children shouldn’t have cancer,” Guo said.
“This journey has taken me to many places around the world and what I’ve learned is that people everywhere are really good and everyone I meet wants to make the world a better place to live in. They’re all trying within their capabilities and together we can achieve miracles,” he said.
The teenager is currently in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as part of an ambitious fundraising mission. His next destination is Doha, Qatar, where he will make a short stop before arriving in Dubai on August 19.
“The hospitality in Riyadh was absolutely amazing. I was really moved by the warmth and friendliness of the people here,” he said.
He is now looking forward to a visit to Dubai. “I have heard that people in the UAE are equally welcoming and hospitable,” Guo said.
An epic journey
After leaving Geneva, Switzerland, he planned a series of visits that would take him to almost 60 countries in 150 days. The itinerary covered more than 80,000km. Its destinations include countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, India and Japan before it flies across the North Pacific to Alaska, then on to Canada and the United States, and finally to South America and Antarctica.
Guo pilots a modified Cessna 182 and has taken extra measures to ensure safety, such as removing the rear seats to make room for extra fuel tanks, allowing him to stay airborne for up to 17 hours at a time.
“I’ve flown from Canada to the west coast of Greenland for up to eight hours, but it’s going to be 15 hours straight from Japan to Alaska, so I’m looking forward to it,” says Guo, who maintains a satellite connection with the ground team and carries three emergency transmitters.
This teenager’s passion for aviation began at the age of 13, and by 17 he had already earned his private pilot’s license and completed more than 700 flying hours.
His Inspiration
Guo’s mission took on a deeper meaning when his cousin was diagnosed with cancer. This inspired him to use his travels to raise awareness and funds for this devastating disease.
“My cousin had blood cancer when he was 18 years old. When I found out about this, I wanted to make a difference and approached my parents with a plan to travel the world alone and raise funds,” Guo said.
“It took me six years to convince my mother because she didn’t give her permission. But my father was very supportive,” Guo added.
With this adventure, the young pilot hopes not only to set a world record, but also to make a lasting contribution to the fight against childhood cancer.