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Fossett-Blogging: "let's go for it"

Mission Status: Steve says "Let's go for it!"

At 21:30CST (03:30UCT) Steve Fossett relayed by satellite phone to Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer Mission Control Director Kevin Stass "let's go for it". Strong tailwinds across the Pacific from the coast of Japan carried Steve between 100knots -130knots from the coast of Japan to Hawaii, bringing the round-the-world non-stop circumnavigation world record back within his grasp.

Steve Fossett, commented: "I hit the jetstream very well which has put us in a better fuel position. I have every hope of making it to Salina tomorrow."

And then theres this:

Steve Fossett has proved once more that he is a record breaking adventurer. At 18:01 UTC when he reached Ferar, Steve broke the world record for "distance without landing" which was last set in 1962 by a B-52.

When it arose that Steve might not make it back to Salina due to the loss of fuel, a conference call was arranged between the Contest and Record Board, who oversee record setting activities in the US. The Board discussed the interpretation of the record setting rules and since Steve had exceeded the 12,000 mile distance set by the B-52 it was determined by vote that the world record was now his.

So, Global Flyer will cross the coast of California later this evening, somewhere between Los Angeles and San Diego.

Between his current location - just off the Hawaiian Islands and landfall, guess what the next closest airfield is available for landing?

Catalina Island.

Posted @ March 02, 2005 09:17 PM | Aviation

Comments

While this IS great, you cannot avoid also admiring the woman who has one of the world's greatest jobs (I can't believe you missed this one) where she gets to have "Have a nice day at 730 mph" (story title).

The opening paragraphs are:

Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann has taken a Boeing 777-200LR jetliner above 30,000 feet and let it stall, testing whether it can recover without a precipitous drop. She has put it into a dive, approaching the speed of sound. Soon, while accelerating down the runway, she'll shut one of the two engines to test that the jet can still take off safely.

How's that for a dream job at 52?

Capt. Darcy-Hennemann is a senior test pilot on Boeing's 777 program and lead pilot on current test flights of the 777-200LR, the latest ultra-long-range model.

Full story at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002260892_testpilot03.html

BTW, VariFrank would you be interested in a banquet invitation to celebrate 50 years of service for the U-2 and its induction into the USAF Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH? If so contact me at my email address.

Posted by: RileyD, nwJ [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 9, 2005 10:48 AM