Monrovia – A Liberian pilot, Abner Yonly, has become the first African to successfully achieve a trailblazing milestone in the aviation industry as he completes a solo flight in a single-engine aircraft from Maryland, USA, to his native homeland, Liberia.

By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972) – websterclayeh@frontpageafricsonline.com

Born and raised in Liberia, Yonly fled to refugee camps in Ivory Coast and later moved on to Ghana during the dark days of Liberia’s civil unrest. However, he moved to the United States of America, where he pursued his aviation studies.

Yonly began his journey from Maryland in the USA. He later made his way to Canada and navigated through a remarkable journey that took him through Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, the United Kingdom, and France before landing in Spain.

Morocco was his first stop on the African continent. After touching down in Morocco, he moved on to Mauritania, Senegal, and Sierra Leone before touching down at the Roberts International Airport.

At the Roberts International Airport, Yonly completed some paperwork before heading off to James Springs Field in Monrovia. At James Springs Field, he received a hero’s welcome from relatives and scores of Liberians, including government officials.

Addressing the media, Yonly told journalists that he was in Liberia during the early part of 2023. During his short stay, Yonly said he visited James Springs Field and observed that there were hardly any Liberian pilots at the airport.

“Coming to the airport, I noticed that you don’t get to see many Liberian pilots. It just hits me in the sense that I’m in the US and my wife and I fly everywhere, and so I want to inspire young children in Liberia,” Yonly said.

He added: “I said to myself, how can I inspire a young child in Liberia? Seeing is believing. And so, if a child walks to the airport and does not see someone who looks like him or her, it will seem impossible. But if the child sees someone who looks like him or her, speaks like him or her, the child will say if he (Yonly) can do it, I can do it as well. That was what motivated me to make this journey.”

“It is not a cheap trip to do. Anyone who follows me on Facebook will know that I love my sports car because I am a sports guy, but I had to sell my car to make this trip, an inspirational journey to inspire the children in Liberia and Africa as a whole,” Yonly furthered.

Yonly says undertaking such an initiative sets a great spotlight on Liberia and the African continent.

“Landing in Scotland, there is a wall where everyone who has done this trip, they got the wall of fame, and you do not get to see someone who looks like us there. This trip is historical because it is not just about me. I am not trying to do this to be famous; I did it to represent Liberia,” he said.

According to Yonly, the trip was successful after a lot of planning. Yonly said he had to do his flight planning, adding that most African countries do not have numbers to call and ask to purchase fuel for his single-engine aircraft.

“So, I encountered a company in Dubai, and they were the ones doing all my handling because I do not have contact to get fuel. Due to the weather, I spent a couple of weeks in Canada. I’m a professional; I don’t do this for a living. I have made less than 600 hours flying,” he said.

Yonly added: “It is a Beachcraft Sunliner 1976, 1080 horsepower jet. The highest I was able to fly was 14,000 feet. Hopefully, my goal is to bring aviation back to Liberia. Growing up, we heard about Air Liberia. We had multiple captains flying in almost every county. We want to see that in Liberia again because it is so great, and we can bring back a flight school in the country.”

Monrovia – Abner Yonly, a Liberia-born American, is on the verge of achieving a trailblazing milestone in aviation in the United States of America. Abner is set to become the first African American pilot to successfully complete a solo flight in a single-engine aircraft from Maryland, USA, to Liberia.

By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)-websterclayeh@frontpageafricsonline.com

“Hi everyone, I am currently living my lifelong dream of flying across the North Atlantic into Europe and then to Africa. It’s even crazier because it’s being done during winter, as a single pilot, single engine with no autopilot. I have no sponsorship, and this trip is becoming more expensive with each leg. I have created a GoFundMe with a link in my bio for you to please help make this dream a reality. I have been flying and haven’t had the time to post videos,” he posted on his Facebook page on November 5, 2023.

After leaving Maryland in the USA, Abner made his way to the United Kingdom and navigated through a remarkable journey that took him through Canada, Greenland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands.

He later made his next stop in Spain before touching down in Morocco, his first point of contact on the African continent. After landing in Morocco, Yonly wrote again on his Facebook page on November 19, 2023.

“I landed in Morocco, got out of the plane, and extended my hand for a handshake but got hugs from everyone who came to meet me at the plane,” Yonly posted.

From Morocco, Yonly will continue his voyage to Senegal and ultimately make his way home to his native Liberia.

After becoming aware of Yonly’s adventure, many Liberians expressed emotions and shared stories about Abner, highlighting his unwavering determination and indomitable spirit to undertake such an eye-catching endeavor.

“As Abner progresses on this remarkable journey, I urge all of us to rally behind him with words of encouragement. This is a feat that most of us wouldn’t even dare to imagine undertaking. Yonly, you have become a true inspiration to countless individuals. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to his wife, Munah, for supporting him in embarking on this extraordinary adventure. Stay safe, Abner, until you touch down in Liberia. Your entire nation stands behind you in awe and anticipation,” a Liberian posted on social media.