Businessman achieves China's first aerial circumnavigation

Zhang Bo (right) and a navigator check the aircraft before starting the around-the-world flight. [Photo/chinanews.com]

A Chinese businessman finished the first around-the-world tour starting from and ending in China after flying for more than 40,000 kilometers, reported Xinhua News Agency on Sunday.

Zhang Bo, 54, and his crew – a journalist, a machinist, a translator and an engineer – stopped at 44 airports in 23 countries during the journey. Zhang is the president of Beijing Navigation Leisurely Culture Development Co Ltd, a company that does pilot training and other aviation related businesses.

After starting his adventure in Beijing on Aug 7, Zhang's single engine turbo-propeller aircraft flew northeastward across the Bering Strait to Alaska before flying across North America. Next, he flew over the Atlantic to Iceland and went over continental Europe to Turkey.

The last leg of the global trip saw him follow the path of the ancient "Silk Road" before finishing the trip in Beijing on Sept 24. The adventure took him 49 days.

Zhang was designated as the ambassador of the First Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo. During the journey, Zhang and his crew sent out silk-made gifts featuring stories about Dunhuang to let more people know about China's Belt and Road Initiative.

The first aerial circumnavigation of the world was conducted in 1914 by a team of aviators from the US. The trip took 175 days.

Since then, more than 350 people have accomplished the aerial circumnavigation on light aircraft. Zhang Bo's feat marks the first time such a trip started and ended in China.

According to International Air Transport Association, the length of an around-the-world flight has to be longer than that of the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn, which is 36,787.6 km.

Zhang Bo's aircraft lands at Timisoara, Romania on Sept 3, 2016 during his global trip. [Photo/gstv.com.cn]