Freedom Flight

Greenville online: The Freedom Flight was born from the long-term effort of reaching out to Iran's young generation who lost hope for a better future in a society where human rights are deserted.
In addition to setting the world flight record for the first Iranian-born pilot to fly a single-engine airplane around the globe, Freedom Flight's mission was formulated to encourage Iran's young generation to realize their ability to accomplish what appears to be impossible, to reach for the greatest potential of their ability and eradicate the fear that is deeply-seated within the society. It was hoped that this will stimulate their courage to push for a change in government.
Since the revolution of 1979, the Islamic Republic in Iran adopted the strategy of creating fear within Iranian people to maintain a strict isolation of the population from the outside world in order to maintain a tight grip on power. Within the structure of Iran's theocratic regime, human rights are nonexistent for ordinary citizens. The principles of human rights are unknown to the people due to their long-term isolation.
Iran's government sustains a constant supply of internal fear by publicly executing political prisoners, stifling freedom of speech, and suppressing self-expression and modern democratic ideals. The government also uses financial dependency to bind the middle class to the government sectors.


Additionally, the Islamic government finds it crucial to create and maintain an external enemy to assure their own long-term survival. By doing so, the public will stay focused on the security which a government can provide from an external enemy, distracting the population from the oppression perpetrated by that government.
Painted graffiti on the street and anti-American slogans are an invariable reminder of how desperately the government officials are concerned about their own survival. Yet it is very apparent that the young generation, which comprises nearly 70 percent of the population, no longer pays attention to the government charade and generally likes American and Western culture.

The core survival of theocracy is solely dependent on the government to sustain a fearful society, where the internal fear of authorities and the external fear of foreign enemies are in constant supply.

If we have any hope for a democratic movement to sprout in Iran, a fearless, open society is a "must-have component." With the young generation's self-confidence and the support of the international community, Iranians are more likely to take a step forward toward establishing a democratic government.

Freedom Flight had many symbolic destinations such as the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, the Eiffel Tower, the Berlin Wall and the tomb of Gandhi, all of which are either a symbol of freedom or historically a sign of long-term struggles for freedom.
More importantly, Freedom Flight had many challenging components that required taking tremendous amounts of risk. This trip was about going against all odds and yet coming out on top, which is very similar to what Iran's young generation needs to face to confront the current regime.
Crossing the frigid waters of the North Atlantic with a single engine airplane is a high-risk adventure. Losing the only engine of the aircraft during the cross-Atlantic flight could only mean ditching the aircraft in the water. If you are lucky enough to survive the crash, manage to get out of the sinking plane, overcome the sub-zero temperatures of the North, and deploy the life raft you saved from the sinking aircraft, the Coast Guard may find you and take you home safely.
Flying the Freedom Flight over Iran's airspace was potentially the highest risk, while it openly encouraged young Iranians to bring about changes. An American registered aircraft and prior knowledge of the Islamic regime, who issued an over-flight permit, will bring a certain level of discomfort for any pilot flying that aircraft. Iran's high mountainous terrain also adds to the challenge of the flight.
Flying through the torrential rainy season of the monsoon in India, Bangladesh and Indonesia, and the typhoon season in the western Pacific was clearly a challenge against weather.
Flying against the wind and downdraft of Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, was also a challenge against Mother Nature and high altitude.
Seventeen hours of flight over the North Pacific Ocean against headwind and fuel limitation was a test of endurance and human determination.
However, with proper planning and management all challenges that appeared to be impossible could be accomplished, regardless of any high-risk objective.
A self-confident generation of young Iranians with realization of their own ability to accomplish what appears to be impossible, coupled with the support of the international community, could bring about a change that also guarantees Middle East regional stability. There may be a price to pay by standing against a theocratic regime, but nothing is impossible.
All free societies struggled to gain their independence and freedom. There is a price to pay for freedom.