For most people, flying through 26 countries in a small, single-engine aircraft over the course of 101 days sounds like a feat best left to seasoned explorers or characters in aviation novels. For Tobias Burch, EAA 1210089, it was a dream of his since 2008 to fly along the Andes Mountains.
The Swiss native, currently stationed in Philadelphia as a project manager for Armasuisse supporting the F/A-18 program, took off on December 22, 2024, in his custom-built Carbon Cub EX-2 — an aircraft he constructed with his then wife Jackie Burch and nicknamed Pocahontas. It was not his first adventure in the sky, but it was by far his most ambitious: a solo flight around South America under visual flight rules, totaling over 25,000 miles and 230 flight hours.
Pocahontas is a light-sport airplane built for utility and endurance, not comfort. But it was designed with care and proven with experience. In fact, Tobias earned recognition in 2019 for building the best kit aircraft of its kind. That foundation, plus years of flying across North America, laid the groundwork for a journey that would push his skills, patience, and endurance to the limit.
The route took him from the United States to the Caribbean, then across to Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, Argentina, and deep into the windswept expanses of Patagonia. From there, he followed the Pacific coastline north through Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and into Central America before returning via Mexico. Each border crossing required advance permission, and each leg brought new variables — terrain, bureaucracy, and the ever-changing sky.
“It was more tricky, especially across the savannas with the big thunderstorms, but also it’s very difficult to bridge, or basically the airports are so far away,” Tobias said. “So that was very hard to fly these long legs.” He carried emergency rations, a life raft, a satellite phone, extra fuel, and backup systems. Every flight had multiple contingency plans — B, C, and even D.
And yet, amid all the logistical hurdles and meteorological challenges, Tobias was gifted with a view of South America that few travelers ever see. From the glacial lakes of southern Patagonia to the dense green of the Amazon basin, untouched landscapes rolled out beneath his wings. And he made frequent stops to camp in the country’s beauty. It was down in Chilean Patagonia that Tobias said he had his favorite moments. With little air traffic it was quiet, just him and the wind. “It was easy flying, just had to watch for the weather that was kind of fast changing and strong winds and all that stuff. So had to be very careful about that,” he said.
Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Ecuador offered local insights and logistical support, often handing Tobias off to the next contact down the line. In several countries, locals greeted him like an honored guest, even throwing an impromptu barbecue party in his honor.
Still, it wasn’t all easy, he said; you have to know your limits. With a background in glacier flying and seaplanes, he was well prepared. But flying solo across so many borders in remote terrain and volatile weather left him mentally and physically drained.
When the journey ended in March 2025, Tobias returned home exhausted but proud. He had accomplished a lifelong dream.