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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 ...
1 mile out
I think the fuel problem was the early loss (apparently due to venting) just after take-off had them concerned over asia since they weren't able to find as strong a jet stream as they had hoped over extended periods.
They were relying on flying alongside the jet stream to save fuel...
It was mentioned that if he did run out of fuel that thing could glide for 200 miles.
I-70 has a traffic stoppage
1 Mile final
Touchdown!
wheels down
Touchdown!
Woohoo! Thanks for the live comments everybody!
Gotta love this stuff.
Maybe he'll do a touch and go, and go around a secound time!
STEVE YOU STUD!!!
WooHoo!
Full stop. Love the Virgin Atlantic logos!
It's awesome to see and hear this in real time on a high speed connection.
Thanks for that link!
I bet he'll be walking funny when he gets out!
He wants to drive it up the taxiway so the crowd can see the plane. What a guy!
Wonder if they lost his luggage? [grin]
Never thought I would say this
Thanks NBC News and MSN for the streaming video!!!
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And he's doing it, too!
Awesome...
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