Tourism Malaysia PR Blog

Friday 26 April 2013

FOLLOW MALAYSIA’S CAPTAIN JAMES ANTHONY TAN ON HIS 1MALAYSIA AROUND THE WORLD EXPEDITION


Malaysian born Capt. James Anthony Tan has passed the half way stage of his 1Malaysia Around The World (1RTW) expedition that will see him become the youngest pilot at just 21 years old to fly solo around the world in a single engine aircraft. In total, James will spend 50 days and 96 hours flying, covering 21,900 nautical miles across the Northern hemisphere, visiting 20 countries with 30 scheduled stops. James will clock over 110 flying hours when the expedition is complete on 12 May 2013. The expedition will see Capt. James enter the World Record Books and achieve 5 national level records in the Malaysia Book of records. Follow the journey at www.1rtw.com.my

James, who was born with dyslexia, had to leave conventional schooling at 8 years old to enroll in a special program specific for dyslexic children and through this expedition, James wants to inspire young people around the world. James intends to create awareness and bring equality to special needs individuals; while at the same time, leaving a legacy so that others will dare to do the impossible. To date over 300 dyslexia associations around the world have been informed of this expedition.

Capt. James Anthony Tan outlines “My goal is to empower the pioneering minds of youth by leading with passion and humility. I want to do this so that someone else can learn from it and do it better than me the next time.”

To realise this dream, James received support from the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Bin Tun Abdul Razak. As a result, a committee was assembled that comprises of various youth bodies inclduing MYPA (Malaysian Youth Pilot Association), 1M4U and MBFM (Majlis Belia Felda Malaysia).

James is flying solo in a single engine aircraft, a Cessna 210 Silver Eagle; called The Spirit of Malaysia in a historic flight circumnavigating the globe. To date, only 124 such flights have been recorded, making it scarcer than the number of space explorations ever made. 

On 26 March 2013, the honourable Prime Minister of Malaysia launched the expedition in Pulau Langkawi, Kedah. Capt. James Anthony Tan then departed Subang Skypark in Malaysia and travelled to Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, Russia, Alaska and Denver before reaching his current destination Indianapolis. James’ next stops include Canada, Greenland, Iceland, and Scotland en route to his arrival in London at the end of this week.

From London, James’ journey will take him to France, Italy, Egypt, Jordan, on to Qatar and straight to Pakistan, India, Myanmar, and back to Thailand before ending the epic journey where he first took off in Subang Skypark, Malaysia due for 12 May 2013.

1 Dream • 1 Flight • 1 Malaysia

-ENDS-
For more information, please contact:
Representation Plus
Flo Powell / Nick Smith
Tel: 020 8877 4509/04
Mob: 077 6624 2138
Support for press trips is available for selected publications, please e-mail flo@representationplus.co.uk

Visit www.1rtw.com.my for more information on the expedition, follow 1RTW on Facebook and Twitter @1rtw.
Notes to editors:

  • All information is correct at time of publication. 
  • Follow the expedition on Twitter & Facebook: 1RTW
  • In 2014, Malaysia will celebrate its fourth VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR (VMY) with the theme “Celebrating 1Malaysia Truly Asia”. The VMY 2014 promotional campaign has started this year with a series of year-long special events and activities leading to VMY 2014. It will contribute to the Government’s target to receive 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion in receipts by 2020, as outlined in the Malaysia Tourism Transformation Plan (MTTP) 2020.     
  • Malaysia has a tropical climate and is a very welcoming multi-cultural society home to some of the best spa resorts in the world. 
  • Malaysian cuisine is as diverse as the nation itself, fusing the culinary traditions and flavours of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Arabian and European cooking.

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