Manuel Queiroz was the first British pilot to fly solo around the world in a home-built plane. He tells Zoe Chamberlain the poignant reason why he flew 27,000 miles over 39 days.

It was supposed to be a routine operation to have his appendix removed.

But doctors found much worse when they began surgery on Manuel Queiroz. They discovered he had cancer of the colon, and took out the tumour there and then.

“It was quite worrying when I woke up and found I had tubes and things sticking into me,” says Manuel, 64 and from Pirton, Worcestershire.

“I expected it to be a quick in-and-out of hospital, I had no idea I had cancer. Something like this changes your perspective on life.

“We all know we’re going to die at some time but it’s such a remote idea you don’t treat it seriously. Suddenly I realised I was immortal and that realisation tends to put your priorities in place.”

Having learnt how to fly in his forties, Manuel decided it was now or never if he was pursue his dream – to fly solo around the world in a home-built aeroplane. So, in November 2000, he began to put his plan into action, buying a plane built by an amateur in Canada, a Van’s RV-6.

He says: “I got into flying quite late in life, and the discovery of that freedom was almost like finding a new religion. It was unique.

“I found flying full of previously unimaginable delights. One of its most outstanding aspects was the ability to see what nature normally hides from us ground-hugging, wingless creatures.

“The very act of flying a small aircraft allows a view of the world that is not only vastly superior to the keyhole glimpse allowed by the average airliner window, but it is much more than just a view – it is an introduction to a new world.

“I chose the Van’s RV-6 because I felt it was the one most likely to be able to break the speed record. There are other home built planes that have been used to travel the world by people overseas but I was not so sure about fibreglass constructions.

“This was metal and I was much happier that I could inspect it and look after it myself. I modified it to make it suitable although the manufacturer said they did not make it to go round the world, and that ‘you’re on your own, don’t come back to us if it doesn’t work.’”

He decided to name his aeroplane Slavka after a friend called Slavka from Wolverhampton who had ovarian cancer at the same time as he had cancer.

“Slavka fought it for a long time, undergoing surgery and chemotherapy but sadly she died.

“Because I was trying to raise money and awareness for Cancer Research UK and because she was a good friend I lost, I named the plane after her.”

Manuel’s wife Jill, 51 and a fellow pilot was understandably worried about her husband’s flying ambition.

He says: “Jill wasn’t keen on my challenge at all. She flies microlights so she was well aware of the risks. But speed has always been a big attraction to me. I used to have a business restoring sports and classic cars in Rowley Regis.

“I had to give this up in order to fulfil my dream.”

When the big day finally arrived – February 24, 2006 – Manuel thought he felt quite calm about his grand adventure.

“I think I must have been more of a state of nerves than I thought because I didn’t realise that it was so cold, below freezing, that day. After all those years of work, all of a sudden it was happening. There was a worry that I might never see my family again.

“But if you are going to try to break records, you have to accept that. You have to be prepared to die doing it and I was. I had done everything I could to prepare the aeroplane and myself but there was a risk and I was well aware of that.”

There were highs and lows throughout his trip.

He says: “The hardest part was preparing for the longest leg of the flight that was across the Pacific Ocean, flying 2,500 miles from Hawaii to California. I knew I didn’t have any chance of anywhere to land and I wasn’t 100 per cent sure I could do it.

“And so the best moment was when I saw California. All of a sudden seeing a continent in front of me, I thought I might just get away with this and carry on living.

“The other aspect of the journey that was amazing was the people, especially those in Texas where they were fabulously kind and helpful. I think they liked the spirit of pioneering. I never experienced any hostility but the bureaucracy was difficult sometimes.

“What was really awesome was nature itself. I understand people that sail round on yachts say they get the feeling of truly how small you are and of what mankind does.

“It makes you realise we are very limited in what we can do and that we are actually part of something fantastic and wonderful. It was very spiritual.

“Before making my journey I had had a bit of a problem with fear. I felt that if you experienced fear there was something wrong with you. Now I realise everyone experiences fear.”

He arrived back home on April 8, 2006, with mixed emotions.

“The day I arrived home was amazing,” he recalls. “Just arriving in England was fantastic. Having seen such beautiful landscapes, I realised England has a lot to offer, too, with its glorious green fields. And the sun was shining.

“But, arriving back was a clash of emotions. I had achieved what I had set myself to do. No matter what happened I had done it because I was back on land in England. I felt as high as I could possibly be.

“And yet my adventure was finished and so I suffered a terrible low at the same time. It took me a bit to compose myself as I was feeling the highest high and the lowest low at the same time.

“But when I saw Jill, it was fantastic. She had given me so much support and being back with her was fabulous. We managed to speak every day over mobile or satellite phones. It cost a fortune in phone calls.”

Later that year, Manuel was awarded the Britannia Trophy by the Royal Aero Club.

“When I was told later that year I was being awarded the Britannia Trophy, it knocked me sideways. I was speechless. If you look at the Royal Aero Club’s website and who has had the award before me, you’ll see all the big names in aviation. Having my name on there is mind-blowing.

“The Duke of York presented my award and I had a bit of a laugh with him. It was a fabulous occasion.

“I would love to now plan another long or exotic adventure but I think that would not be fair on Jill. I didn’t realise just how much she agonised and was upset when I was away.

“I have written a book called Chasing the Morning Sun. It was only when she read it and I saw it brought back all she had gone through, I realised I couldn’t do that to her again.

“People said to me I was lucky my cancer was spotted and taken away so quickly but I didn’t feel lucky at the time to have been told I had cancer.

“But looking back now, of course, I realise how lucky I was.”

* Chasing the Morning Sun by Manuel Queiroz (£20, Grub Street) is available from most good bookshops. Manuel is doing a talk and signing at the Number 8 Arts Centre, Pershore on August 13 at 2pm. Call the centre on 01386 555028 for details.