solo fight around the world in 66 hours

update on flight:

Wed Mar 2, 7:03 AM ET U.S. National - AP



SALINA, Kan. - Flying east over Asia, millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett was more than halfway toward his goal early Wednesday of becoming the first person to fly a plane around the globe solo, nonstop and without refueling.


Canadian Press
Slideshow: Pilot to Attempt Non-Stop Flight Around the World

Fossett Tries Solo, Nonstop Flight Around World
(AP Video)



Reaching speeds of nearly 400 mph, his experimental single-engine GlobalFlyer took him over Libya, Egypt and the Red Sea on Tuesday before racing into Pakistani air space and continuing east.


By late Tuesday, the aircraft had consumed 25 percent of its 18,000 pounds of fuel, and Fossett had downed at least three diet chocolate milkshakes. The jet took off after sunset Monday from Salina.


Fossett was in "remarkably good spirits for someone who's been awake now for, pretty continuously, over 24 hours," project manager Paul Moore said in an update posted on Fossett's Web site.


Fossett can use autopilot when he needs rest. His mission control in Salina constantly monitors his altitude and course positioning and can call him by phone if something goes wrong.


Fossett estimated he will complete the 23,000-mile journey at midday Thursday.


Fossett, 60, already holds the record for flying solo around the globe in a balloon, as well as dozens of other aviation and sailing records.


Project manager Paul Moore said Fossett reached his cruising altitude of 45,000 feet over the Atlantic instead of over Saudi Arabia, as originally expected, because of better-than-expected performance of the GlobalFlyer.


The project is being financed by Virgin Atlantic founder Sir Richard Branson, a longtime friend and fellow adventurer.


For a while early Tuesday, Fossett was flying blind and in the dark over the U.S.-Canada border after experiencing difficulties with his global positioning system. Moore said Fossett relied on help from mission control to navigate before the problem corrected itself.


"It was a minor scare that could have been a real show-stopper," Moore said.


Fossett is trying to break several aviation records, including the longest flight by a jet. The record is more than 12,000 miles, set by a B-52 bomber in 1962.


Aviation pioneer Wiley Post made the first solo around-the-world trip in 1933, taking more than seven days and stopping numerous times. The first nonstop global flight without refueling was made in 1986 by Jeana Yeager and Dick Rutan, brother of GlobalFlyer designer Burt Rutan.


In 2002, Fossett became the first person to fly a balloon solo around the world.


___

update--fuel trouble



AP
Fossett Faces Fuel Crisis in Global Bid

2 hours, 20 minutes ago



SALINA, Kan. - Millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett discovered a serious problem with the fuel system of his plane Wednesday, forcing him to consider abandoning his quest to become the first person to fly solo around the world without refueling.




"There's a big go, no-go decision that the team has to make," said project manager Paul Moore as Fossett's mission control team was reviewing data.

Fossett and his GlobalFlyer were still over Japan shortly after 11 a.m. EST, and he had decided to fly on toward Hawaii. He'll decide at there whether to continue heading east for the U.S. mainland. A decision wasn't expected to be announced until 2 p.m. EST.

Moore said fuel sensors in the 13 tanks aboard the single-engine jet differ from readings of how quickly fuel is burning during the flight. Moore said the crew has been forced to assume that 2,600 pounds of the original 18,100 pounds of fuel "disappeared" early in the flight.

Flight currently 1015 miles west of Catalina Island.

Updates:http://www.virginatlanticglobalflyer.com/MissionControl/Tracking

Exhaustion sets in as Fossett enters home stretch of non-stop flight

53 minutes ago



SALINA, United States (AFP) - Exhaustion began to set in as American adventurer Steve Fossett reached the home stretch of his epic bid at the first solo, non-stop non-refueled flight around the world, which he is confident he will complete despite some loss of fuel.



When asked how he felt after his second full day of flying, Fossett late Wednesday told reporters via satellite phone: "It feels like three days."

"I've gotten minimal naps while keeping my eyes on the instruments," he added, explaining that because of the west-to-east direction he is flying, he "had to do four nights in a two and a half day trip."

The 60-year-old millionaire had a stressful night after the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer support team at Mission Control here discovered that he had 2,600 pounds (1,181 kilograms) less fuel than expected. The 3,350-pound (1,522-kilo) single-engine aircraft lifted off from here with 18,100 pounds (8,210 kilos) of fuel on Monday.

For much of the day there were concerns that Fossett would have to abort the mission and land in Hawaii.

But by 04:00 GMT Thursday, Fossett and his crew determined that he had sufficient fuel to continue onward.

"The jet stream has been extraordinary. That allowed me to make up some time. In addition I've practiced fuel conservation." Fossett said. "I have every hope of making it to Salina."

Fossett said he was happy to hear that he had already broken one record: the longest non-stop distance traveled by a jet airplane.

He sounded personally touched to hear about the vast public interest his journey had generated. On launch, the mission's Web site, www.virginatlanticglobalflyer.com, received 2.8 million hits. Between 04:00 GMT Wednesday and 04:00 GMT Thursday, the site received 76 million hits.

While the cause of the fuel loss has not been determined, organizers said it was possible that fuel evaporated or escaped or that more fuel than expected was used during takeoff.

The plane had never flown before with full tanks and some fuel may have spilled out through a venting system used to maintain adequate pressure in the tanks, organizers said. A leak is unlikely, they added, as the fuel loss ceased after the first few hours of flight.

The plane's four main tanks are equipped with sensors, but not the additional tanks in the wings, where it was impossible to detect a possible leak until they began draining into the main boom tanks.

By the time Fossett reached Hawaii the wing tanks had begun to drain and it appeared there were no further fuel losses, said project manager Paul Moore.

Organizers are now hopeful that Fossett will be able to make it back to Salina by Thursday midday (around 18:00 GMT) if tailwinds remain strong. The plane was equipped at takeoff with 15 percent more fuel than it was expected to use.

It also has a strong glide capacity and could make the last 200 miles (325 kilometers) on an empty tank if necessary.

Moore said that given the current fuel situation, Fossett should be able to land with fuel to spare.

However, Moore cautioned that a number of problems could arise in the coming hours to force Fossett to abort the flight.



"Some things have gone in Steve's favor in the last few hours," he said. "But Steve and the Global Flyer are close to the limits of their endurance."

An unscheduled landing would not pose a risk, Moore said. "Although Steve required a huge runway to takeoff, there are a number of airstrips that Steve can safely land on," he said.

At 1130 GMT Thursday, Fossett was flying over the Pacific Ocean, 600 miles (965 kilometers) southwest of California, at an elevation of 45,613 feet (13,902 meters) and a speed of 250 miles per hour (402 kilometers per hour). He had been flying for almost 54 hours.

The three-day journey is a severe test of endurance and piloting abilities for Fossett, who has set dozens of world records with jet airplanes and gliders, hot air balloons and sailing.

The attempt is being bankrolled by Virgin Atlantic founder and entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, who has set a number of aviation and sailing records of his own.

The GlobalFlyer was designed by aviation legend Burt Rutan, who recently made headlines when his SpaceShipOne won the 10 million dollar "X Prize" for sending a privately-designed craft into space twice in two weeks.

Rutan also designed the Voyager, which was used by his brother Dick Rutan and Jeanne Yeager in 1986 to fly around the world without stopping or refueling in nine days.

Fossett hopes to beat that record by making it in less than 80 hours, and by doing it on his own.

Top Stories - AP
AP
Fossett Back Over U.S. Soil


By JOHN MILBURN, Associated Press Writer

SALINA, Kan. - Millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett was again flying over U.S. soil, completing a long crossing of the Pacific Ocean early Thursday morning as he headed for the finish of his nonstop around-the-world solo flight.



"I'm really starting to perk up, now realizing that I'm getting close to the end," Fossett said.

Fossett returned to U.S. airspace shortly before 8 a.m. CST, and cruised over Los Angeles about 61 hours after leaving from Salina on his record-setting attempt. If Fossett makes it back to the central Kansas town, and he's expected at around 2:20 p.m. EST, he'll become the first person to circumnavigate the globe alone without stopping or refueling.

There was some doubt Wednesday if Fossett could complete the journey after a problem was discovered with the fuel system of his single-engine jet. But Fossett played down the problem overnight, and he and his flight crew agreed to keep the GlobalFlyer in the air rather than abandon the attempt and put down in Hawaii.

Early Thursday morning, Fossett's support staff in Salina reiterated that their concerns over fuel had subsided, and they remained confident the weary pilot would complete his journey and break the record.

The fuel system problem was discovered early Wednesday.

Moore said fuel sensors in the 13 tanks differed from readings of how quickly the custom-built plane's single jet engine was burning fuel. Moore said the crew had been forced to assume that 2,600 pounds of the original 18,100 pounds of fuel "disappeared" early in the flight.

It was not clear whether the problem was with the instruments that track how much fuel remains or if some fuel had been lost because of a leak, Fossett's team said.

Project manager Paul Moore said wind conditions and the fuel situation improved between Japan and Hawaii, prompting Fossett to tell mission control, "Let's go for it."

Mission control determined the plane conserved fuel because of strong tail winds and had more than 3,200 pounds left, enough to finish the global trek. By the time the decision was made for Fossett to continue, he had traveled nearly 19,000 miles of the 23,000-mile flight.

Fossett, 60, already holds the record for flying solo around the globe in a balloon, as well as dozens of other aviation and sailing records.

The project is being financed by Virgin Atlantic founder Sir Richard Branson, a longtime friend and fellow adventurer. On Thursday, Branson told Fossett that once he got back to Salina, "We'll have a hot bath ready."

"I'm ready for that," Fossett replied.

The first nonstop global flight without refueling was made in 1986 by Jeana Yeager and Dick Rutan, brother of GlobalFlyer designer Burt Rutan.

___

(CNN) -- Steve Fossett left the Pacific Ocean behind on Thursday and flew over Los Angeles on his quest to become the first person to fly solo round-the-world without refueling. He is expected to touch down in Kansas later this afternoon.

"I'm feeling very good and starting to perk up now that we are getting close to the end," said Fosset during a video interview aboard his plane, GlobalFlyer, on Thursday.

The 60-year-old pilot passed over the United States about 9 a.m., more than 60 hours after leaving the ground. Fossett is expected to land on an airstrip in Salina, where he began his journey, sometime after 1 p.m. ET.

Fossett and his Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer 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. The jet is burning 102 pounds of fuel per hour. He decided to press on because of favorable tail winds.

"If I have engine trouble, there will be no trouble with gliding," Fossett said.

The team speculated that fuel was vented from four tanks shortly after takeoff. Others speculated that a faulty gauge had shown the fuel was in the tank when it wasn't.

In any event, early warnings that the dramatic drop in fuel could force Fosset to land in Hawaii were later revised. Fossett is now expected to land with reserves in the plane's fuel tanks, said flight team officials.

"The range was going to be very close, said Jon Karkow of Scaled Composites, the firm which built the craft. "We had a moment of panic." He said as more data arrived from the aircraft, projections showed the fuel would propel the aircraft throughout its entire 40,234 kilometer (25,000-mile) trek.

"Knowing Steve, if he runs out of fuel short of the airport, he's one of the world's best glider pilots and the plane would be capable of actually gliding for 50 miles at the end," said mission sponsor Richard Branson, who heads Virgin Atlantic.

Fossett has proved himself to be a modern-day Magellan, the mariner who circumnavigated the globe in 1519-21. 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 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.

According to a map of the journey which refreshes every 10 minutes the flight is now nearing the Kansas border.

Technology
Fossett nears finish line

Thursday, March 3, 2005 Posted: 2:01 PM EST (1901 GMT)

story.flyer.canyon.ap.jpg
Steve Fossett's Global Flyer soars over the Grand Canyon on Thursday near the planned end of the flight.




(CNN) -- Steve Fossett has entered Kansas airspace, the state he started his quest to become the first person to fly solo round-the-world without refueling three days ago. He is expected to arrive at home base Salina, Kansas, just before 2 p.m. ET.

At 1:30 p.m. ET Fossett was about 100 miles from Salina, Virgin Atlantic project manager Paul Moore said.

"I'm feeling very good and starting to perk up now that we are getting close to the end," said Fosset during a video interview aboard his plane, GlobalFlyer, on Thursday morning.

The 60-year-old pilot passed over the United States about 9 a.m., more than 60 hours after leaving the ground.

Fossett and his Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer 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. The jet is burning 102 pounds of fuel per hour. He decided to press on because of favorable tail winds.

"If I have engine trouble, there will be no trouble with gliding," Fossett said.

The team speculated that fuel was vented from four tanks shortly after takeoff. Others speculated that a faulty gauge had shown the fuel was in the tank when it wasn't.

In any event, early warnings that the dramatic drop in fuel could force Fosset to land in Hawaii were later revised. Fossett is now expected to land with reserves in the plane's fuel tanks, said flight team officials.

"The range was going to be very close, said Jon Karkow of Scaled Composites, the firm which built the craft. "We had a moment of panic." He said as more data arrived from the aircraft, projections showed the fuel would propel the aircraft throughout its entire 40,234 kilometer (25,000-mile) trek.

"Knowing Steve, if he runs out of fuel short of the airport, he's one of the world's best glider pilots and the plane would be capable of actually gliding for 50 miles at the end," said mission sponsor Richard Branson, who heads Virgin Atlantic.

Fossett has proved himself to be a modern-day Magellan, the mariner who circumnavigated the globe in 1519-21. 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 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.