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 ...
It has the usual aileron elevator and rudder combination.
Branson standing by at the hangar awaiting the arrival ...
Guess this one goes to the smithsonian too...
Anyone know how many miles he went. I'd imagine it would be around 25K.
Clear of the runway. The ever-flamboyant Sir Branson standing by.
I haven't been folowing the story in great detail before this morning, so possibly my question has been raised before. Apologies in advance..I'm struck by the remarkable similarity of the aircraft to my favorite WW II aircraft, the P-38 Lightning...was Rutan every asked why he didn't use a continuous tail boom?
I was wondering exactly the same thing when I saw it up close. Seems like it would be unstable with the tail sections independent.
I would guess Burt designed it to be as clean, drag wise, as possible. So he deleted the mid section.
Less Drag = More Range
. . . *sigh* . . . Guess I'll have to be the first to do it upside down.
Congratulations to Mr. Fossett! :-)
LOL, some guy has a big checkered flag.
That was Brabson with the checkered flag ...
oops ... Branson ...
Obviously the P-38 had the tail boom for structural integrity, and it isn't needed with the composite design..can anyone pull up a P-38 schematic for comparison?
After flight checklist:
1.) Poop.
2.) Sleep.
Jet exhaust.
23,000 miles.
Remarkable achievement, and it only serves to magnify what a stupendous, and courageous flight Lindberg made..
Slight correction
===
After flight checklist:
1.) Poop.
2.) Shower
3.) Sleep.
Best line I heard today..ON CNN..someone was recapping the news conference from this morning. A reporter asked if after 66+ hours, he would be able to land the plane. MIssion Control's answer.."what choice does he have?"
Sheesh, that crew chief is a bulldog. Snapping at the photographers.
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