19-year-old attempts to fly around world solo

EL CAJON, Calif. (KGO) -- A college sophomore hopes to etch his name in the record books as the youngest person to fly solo around the world.

Matt Guthmiller is 19 years old and plans to take off from San Diego on Wednesday.

He says his passion for flying began at a young age when he used to play flight simulator games on his family's computer.

The trip will take about 40 days and will include at least 20 stops on five continents.

"I'm not really nervous. Of course, once I get out an hour over the ocean for the first time and all I can see is blue, that might change a little bit," said Guthmiller.

Guthmiller will pilot a Beech A-36, Bonanza. The MIT sophomore has removed four of the plane's six seats. That will add room for an extra fuel tank which will make it possible to fly across oceans.