CAPAIRMAN 0 Posted March 3, 2005 Quote[/b] ] (CNN) -- Pilot Steve Fossett has become the first person to fly solo nonstop round-the-world. His plane, the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, touched down Thursday afternoon in Salina, Kansas, more than 66 hours after he lifted off from the same spot.With a crowd and marching band to greet him, Fossett landed at Salina Municipal Airport around 2:49 p.m. ET. Fossett, his legs a little wobbly, stepped out of the cockpit and hugged his wife, as well as his flight financier, Virgin Atlantic founder Richard Branson. The flight wasn't without drama. The 60-year-old pilot and his team considered abandoning the trip when they were over Hawaii on Wednesday because the experimental plane came up about 2,600 pounds of fuel short after taking off on Monday. He decided to press on because of favorable tail winds. The team speculated that fuel was vented from four tanks shortly after takeoff. Early warnings that the dramatic drop in fuel could force Fossett to land in Hawaii were later revised. Fossett has proved himself to be a modern-day Magellan, the mariner who circumnavigated the globe from 1519 to 1521. In 2002, he became the first solo balloonist to circle the globe nonstop, despite an on-board fire and dangerous winds. Two years later, he and his crew made the fastest circumnavigation on a sailing ship: 58 days. The GlobalFlyer consists of three hulls attached to a 35-meter (114-foot) wing that measures more than half the wingspan of a Boeing 747. Twin "boom" hulls on either side of the cockpit hull each carry almost 2,500 kilograms (5,500 pounds) of fuel. Atop the plane's 7-foot cockpit is a single jet engine. The first nonstop global flight -- not solo like Fossett's -- without refueling was made in 1986 by Jeana Yeager and Dick Rutan, brother of GlobalFlyer designer Burt Rutan. Last year, Burt Rutan led the first manned commercial flight to reach the edge of space. Rutan's SpaceShipOne won his team the $10 million X Prize, an award from a nonprofit foundation aimed at spurring civilian space flight. Nicely Done. One of the last major aviation record broken by a 60 year old. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlackScorpion 0 Posted March 3, 2005 Nice... Glad to hear he made it after all... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Monkey Lib Front 10 Posted March 3, 2005 If he had glided around the world i would have been impressed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpongeBob 0 Posted March 4, 2005 He also set the record for the number of times he shit and pissed his pants during a non stop round the world flight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Leveler 0 Posted March 4, 2005 *** YAWN *** Thought this was a new space record Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Placebo 29 Posted March 4, 2005 If you feel a thread is not worth of your participation then press backspace and choose another one, lame jokes and other forums of spam are not appreciated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theavonlady 2 Posted March 4, 2005 Did he sleep? Is there autopilot? Was it pressurized or did he wear a flightsuit and airmask all the time? Was there any technical achievement or is this just a non-stop record breaker? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Balschoiw 0 Posted March 4, 2005 From what I´ve heard he took a maximum of 15 minute sleep phases. That indicates hat there was some kind of autopilot. Quote[/b] ]Was there any technical achievement or is this just a non-stop record breaker? It´s just a non-stop breaker. Quote[/b] ]Was it pressurized or did he wear a flightsuit and airmask all the time? From the looks of the cabin it seems to be pressurized. Fosset imo has a really big endless midlife crisis and the money to live it out in unique ways. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akira 0 Posted March 4, 2005 There was indeed an autopilot and he was able to take "power naps" as they called it. It was indeed pressurized as well since he was flying, on average, at about FL450. Also it should be pointed out that its not really a "record breaker" as there is no "record." This is a first in aviation therefore he has set a landmark. All attempts after will be based on this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Leveler 0 Posted March 4, 2005 If you feel a thread is not worth of your participation then press backspace and choose another one, lame jokes and other forums of spam are not appreciated. Wow that is some attitude! Me thinks you take yourself too seriously! Better ease down, you are spamming just like me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nSe7eN 0 Posted March 4, 2005 Me thinks you take yourself too seriously! That’s a part of his work! and he was right when he said that! Better ease down, you are spamming just like me. So you know that you are spamming, ease down what you gonna do if he dont? Read the forum rules! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
