Flying around the world has always been a goal for Chinese citizen Saki Chen.\
To prepare for this adventure, she rented a plane in Iceland and flew over a volcano and glacier.
Chen completed the circumnavigation mission with Amanda Lincoln and Richard and Larry Rohl on Sept. 27.
The group completed their 58- day journey by landing at the Cuyahoga County Airport in Richmond Heights.
“I’ve worked diligently for almost five years trying to achieve my dream,” she said. “After all the struggling, I’m so grateful that I made it.”
Chen piloted a T &G Flying Club’s Bonanza A36, a single-engine airplane, as the Rohls, the club’s owners, served as safety pilots during the 24,000-mile journey.
Chen says despite flying through storms and during the night, it was still “a smooth flight.”
Though Chen says France was her favorite stop on their excursion, she says that America is the best flying country.
In addition to Iceland, she travelled across the Atlantic to Europe, Canada,Middle East, China, Japan, Alaska and the United States.
“I love flying and enjoyed seeing the world,” Chen said.
They shared detailed accounts and photos from their global journey on the T&G Flying Club Facebook page.
The group shared unforgettable experiences together exploring other countries and hopes to inspire other aviators.
“I am an example of how hard work pays off,” she said. “I do not have a lot of money or time and it was not easy, but if you do want to do something- if there’s a will, there’s a way.”
T&G Flying Club is the largest and longest running flying Club in Ohio, according to founder Virginia Rohl.
“We offer a unique, diverse fleet of planes and the perfect plane for this trip,” she said.
http://www.morningjournal.com/article/MJ/20160928/NEWS/160929446