Name Wei Chen Education University of Memphis | Role Pilot | |
Born May 31, 1971 (age 53) ( 1971-05-31 ) Changsha, Hunan, China Occupation Aviator, Entrepreneur, Businessman Known for First Chinese Citizen to circumnavigate the globe in a single engine plane | ||
Wei Chen 陈玮 (born May 31, 1971) is known for his accomplishment as the first Chinese Citizen to circumnavigate the globe in a single engine plane. He is also known for his accomplishment (Wei Around the World) of being the first person to fly into Beijing Capital Airport in a single engine plane and the first Chinese Citizen to fly around the globe through China’s restricted airspace. Flying a Socata TBM 700, Mr. Chen is also the first private pilot to circumnavigate the globe with less than 500 hours of the total flying time.
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Accomplishments
Wei Chen received worldwide acclaim in 2011 when he flew around the world as the first Chinese Citizen. Chen piloted his airplane over 25,000 miles to 21 countries and visiting 39 cities. Chen was the first Chinese Citizen to fly around the globe through China's restricted airspace on July 7, 2011, flying into his hometown of Changsha, Hunan, China. On July 12, 2011, Chen set the record as the first private pilot to fly a single engine aircraft into Beijing Capital Airport.
Aims
Prior to his “Wei Around the World” departure, Chen’s goal was to raise $250,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. It was also his goal to promote general aviation in China, strengthen East-West relations and ties between China and its citizens.
Early years
Wei Chen was born in 1971 during the Cultural Revolution in Changsha City, Hunan province, China. Chen dreamed of becoming a pilot as a high school student in China but he wasn’t chosen for the military training and he gave up that dream. Chen was accepted to the IMBA Program at Fogelman College of Business and Economics at the University of Memphis under scholarship in 1996. He received his IMBA in 1998.
Business
Upon graduating from the University, he started a one-man business, Sunshine Enterprise, Inc., a distribution company of construction and industrial equipment, and has grown it to over 400 people with two manufacturing facilities in China and four branch offices in the USA. He was named Executive of the Year in 2007 by the Memphis Business Journal and Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008. More than 20 years later, the dream of flight was revived when Chen, now living in the United States, was offered a ride in a friend’s plane in 2006.
Flying
He began learning to fly in early 2007 and got his license on November 23, 2007. He purchased his first plane, a Cessna 172, on October 10, 2007. Chen acquired his Socata TBM 700 in 2011 in preparation for his round the world journey.
Current projects
Wei Chen is currently working on efforts to facilitate China’s rapid development in the general aviation industry. Wei Chen has appeared in a one-hour special on CCTV and a guest star on Hunan Television, Happy Camp. His story, “Wei Around the World”, is currently under observation for book and film.
Family
Spouse: Isabel Wei Chen.