Two pilots embark on a 90-day flight, 20,000 miles to raise awareness of ending Polio

Two American Rotarians have decided to fly around the world in a single engine 1977 Cessna T210M airplane. The entire trip is sponsored, and events are then held where they have planned to land and the profits from these events go directly to End Polio Now.

Both Peter and John are pilots, Rotarians, and members of the Fellowship of Flying Rotarians. Polio eradication has been a primary focus of Rotary for over 35 years and continues to be a major initiative. While the end of polio may be near, no child anywhere is safe until every child has been vaccinated. The effort is called the “Flight to end Polio”.

Peter Teahen, 69 and John Ockenfels, 70, soared upward and onward at 9:40 a.m. on Friday, 5thMay’23, from The Eastern Iowa Airport, en route to add their names to the roster of the 700 pilots who have flown around the world in a single-engine airplane.

During this global tour, they will visit 21 countries and will make 39 stops. This is a trip that only 700 pilots have ever completed. Teahen and Ockenfels have taken time off work to go on the trip. They’re paying for the flight on their own as well. This allows every donation to go toward the Rotary Foundation to help end polio.

Many people may not be aware, but Polio is still a disease that affects hundreds throughout the world every year.

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