Pilot reveals scariest part of around-the-world solo flight

For the first Malaysian to fly solo around the world, Captain James Anthony Tan, the experience of flying with frozen fuel into fearsome thunderstorms was the scariest part of his 48-day flight.

Tthe 21-year-old pilot said that he encountered thunderstorms where his aircraft had to fly through heavy rain and lightning during a Taiwan to Japan route.

"From Juno (USA) to Vancouver (Canada), I had my number one fuel pump fail, my hydraulic line leaking and my entire dashboard vibrating violently...I had no idea what was happening," he told media members after his aircraft landed on Malaysian soil at 4.30pm today.

Above Bearing Straits, the temperature on the ground was minus-20 degree and he had to use a screwdriver to break ice which was caught in the aircraft structure and moving components.

It was a very scary experience but he had to do what other pilots would, that is, remain calm, cool and relaxed.

The mission by Tan, who hails from Sungai Long, Kajang, earned him a place in the World Guiness Book of Records after he succeeded in becoming the youngest pilot to fly solo around the world in the fastest time.

The previous record was held by a 22-year-old youth who completed the journey in 80 days on July 11, last year.

Tan is also the youngest pilot from Asean to achieve the feat. The expedition took him to 20 countries and he made 30 stop-overs, among them in China, Japan, Russia, USA and Canada, with the final stop at the RMAF base in Subang here.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, at a special ceremony held in conjunction with Tan's return from the '1Malaysia Mission Around the World' at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) airbase in Subang, had described Tan's success in making it into the World Guinness Book of Records as a major milestone for the counrty.

Tan also promised to reveal more about his experiences in a soon-to-be published book.

In 48 days via various countries, he had missed a lot, including Malaysia's 13th General Election.

Nevertheless, what he experienced has made him very grateful that he was born a Malaysian.

For Tan, Malaysia has always been the most beautiful and peaceful country, ranked No 7 as the most visited country in the world, and Kuala Lumpur is always attractive.

To a question from one of the media members on what he felt towards the country after the Barisan Nasional won the people's mandate, he replied: "Pakistanis pay RM3.90 for one litre of petrol, while Malaysians only pay RM1.90 per litre," he said, showing a sign of disbelief on why people here were complaining.

Meanwhile, his father, Tan On Chin, 58, said he always feared that his only son would get into a dangerous situation while flying.

"Actually, I did not want him to fly as I wondered how he could make his dream come true...I told him that he did not have the money to buy a car; then, how is he going to get an aeroplane?," he said with a smile.