Taipei: Roger Lin, the first Taiwanese pilot to attempt an around-the-world solo flight, arrived in Thailand on June 24, marking the fourth stop on his planned 180-hour round-the-world journey.
According to Focus Taiwan, Lin landed at Taiwan's Taipei Songshan Airport eleven days earlier, the third of 14 planned major stops on his itinerary. He is accompanied by his Portuguese engineer, Filipe Rosa, who will continue to fly with Lin for the duration of the journey, which will take them to more than 10 countries.
Lin has expressed that his RTW flight is not just a personal achievement but also a testament to the bravery of the Taiwanese people. Inspired by past RTW flights stopping in Taiwan, Lin aims to showcase the capabilities of Taiwanese pilots on a global stage.
Lin and Rosa took off from the San Gabriel Valley Airport in El Monte, California, on June 5 in a Sling 4 Tsi aircraft, designated N688TW. The single-engine personal aircraft is sensitive to weather changes, making the flight particularly challenging. Lin's previous longest flight was six hours, and the RTW journey requires careful planning for food and relief breaks. Lin limits his liquid intake and uses adult briefs to manage mid-flight needs, while also frequently checking the aircraft's engine temperature and weather conditions.
The journey faced unexpected challenges after taking off from California. Lin initially landed at Adak Airport in Alaska and New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, Japan, before arriving in Taiwan. However, plans to continue to the Philippines encountered hurdles when Lin was pressured to remove the word "Taiwan" and the national flag from his plane's tail due to a report to U.S. and Portuguese aviation authorities. Despite complying to avoid further issues, Lin proudly wears an aviation jacket with Taiwan's flag.
After a prolonged stay in Taiwan, Lin proceeded to Thailand, bypassing the Philippines, East Timor, and Malaysia. The next leg of the journey will see the duo departing from Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport for Sri Lanka.