Posted on 03/03/2005 7:30:50 AM PST by gopwinsin04
US adventurer Steve Fossett ended all doubts that he would continue his quest to become the first person to fly around the world solo, non-stop and without refuleing after he reached Hawaii and headed for the US mainland early Thursday morning.
Tailwinds as fast as 150 mph encouraged Fossett to continue across the Pacific, according to his mission control team in an emailed statement yesterday.
Yesterday, they said a fuel loss left him dependent on tailwinds to complete the bid. 'Let's go for it,' Fossett said by satellite phone at 3:30 AM this morning, according to the statement.
'I hit the jet stream, which has put us in a better fuel position. I have every hope of making it.'
Fossett has already broken one record on his current flight. After passing a checkpoint at Ferar in southeast Toyko, he broke the 1962 record for the longest flight without a landing.
The US pilots 14,358.02 miles beat the 12,532.28 miles set by the B-52 bomber more than four decades ago.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbc.ca ...
Beautiful day in Kansas 4 miles NW straight in to 7
got visual from field
The folks on the ground can see him now and are starting to cheer.
its about 55 degrees and beautiful here
Yeah, my video is behind all yours due to slow stream buffering
2 mile final, wind calm.
Spaceflight and now this! What a follow up for scale composites!
Not to detract from the signifigance of the achievement, but you have to wonder whether the fuel 'problem' wasn't just an attempt to drum up publicity.
"What hath God wrought?"
Excuse me, Sacled Composites
Here is what Kansas looks like from the air:
___________________________________________________________
Shush.
Is he still under power or in 'glide mode'??
Pardon me, I'm too excited ;)
Left drag chute out ...
Under power and the drogue chute is out.
What an adorable little chute.
Flight idle, chute out
Cars are pulled over on the side of the interstate below to have a look.
cleared to land 17, 1 mile out.
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