Fossett makes history: Pilot is first person to fly solo nonstop round-the-world

CNN ^

[B4Ranch]

And BTW, it's an American record.

Damn right!

[Jackknife]

Rutan rocks. It's been a good year for him.

Burt Rutan is our generation's Werner Von Braun.

[ExSES]

Burt Rutan is our generation's Werner Von Braun.

And then some!!!

I am certain that Rutan was paid well for the plane's design and production AND.....

Rutan's flight with Jenna (sp) was the first global circumnavigation, non-stop without refueling, by PROP. His record is quite secure (perhaps the use of a jet engine was mandated in order for Rutan to become involved???).

In any event, Rutan is a name for the history books for many years to come!

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

must cross two antipodes.

The requirement for getting credit when sailing around the globe is to circle two antipodes, since you can never "cross" a point with high confidence.

[Jackknife]

(perhaps the use of a jet engine was mandated in order for Rutan to become involved???).

The engine is supposed to be the most fuel efficient jet ever made, and could revolutionize commercial flight.

[rmlew]

Hope he had a good autopilot; either that or I hope the DEA isn't checking him for meth ... how a man can stay up 66 hours .. no idea for a man his age.
What makes you think that he didn't get a prescription for Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine)?
http://www3.telus.net/eddyelmer/Tools/eedrug3.htm

[yarddog]

I always thought John Glenn had what we used to call, "a sponsor".

He was not the first man in space, he was not the first American in space, and he was not the first man to orbit the earth, yet he got more publicity than anyone, including the first man on the moon.

[jaydubya2]

And first senior in space riding the shuttle. I think I at least got that part correct

[True Republican Patriot]

It was Burt's brother that flew that history making trip with Jenna. Burt's the design genius, the brother the Pilot.

[Boundless]

>> "...Voyager was almost disqualified for its record
>> because it scraped off a winglet on takeoff...."

> How would losing a winglet affect the record?

It wouldn't, which is why it was waived. The increased
drag cost more than the mass loss gained.

> The rest of the plane made it. Who makes up those rules?

The point of the rule was to prevent dodges like JATO
packs for takeoff, jetisoned undercarriages, drop tanks,
etc. You fly the rules you apply for. Don't like 'em?
Get the committee (or another) to draft rules you like.

[Former Military Chick]

Thought you might enjoy a few photo's!

Erik Slavin / S&S
Ecstatic Fossett

Erik Slavin / S&S
Pilot Steve Fossett leaves the cockpit after returning to the airport in Salina, Kansas March 3, 2005. Fossett became the first person to make a solo flight around the world without refueling. His single-engine jet-powered experimental plane touched down at the Salina Municipal Airport at 2:48 p.m. EST in a smooth landing about 67 hours after he left the same strip on February 28. Photo by Dave Kaup/Reuters

Erik Slavin / S&S
Pilot Steve Fossett, comes in for a landing, becoming the first person to make a nonstop, solo flight around the world without refueling, in Salina, Kansas, March 3, 2005. His single-engine jet-powered experimental plane touched down at the Salina Municipal Airport at 2:48 p.m. EST in a smooth landing about 67 hours after he left the same strip Monday night. Photo by Dave Kaup/Reuters

Erik Slavin / S&S
The Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer passes over Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, March 3, 2005. Adventurer Steve Fossett landed in Kansas on Thursday, becoming the first person to make a solo flight around the world without refueling. Photo by Pool/Reuters

Find more at Fossett Challenge

[Peach]

That last picture is just gorgeous.

[Former Military Chick]

It sure is, if someone had a son and needed something for the wall, an enlargement of that photo would fit the bill.

Glad you enjoyed the photos.

[mitchbert]

What's next? To the Moon and back in a lawn chair covered in kiddie balloons? LOL!

Sir Richard wants to do space tourism. I have a feeling there's a bigger plan here that's getting overlooked by the media and keeners. These ventures are simply individual parts of research and proof of concept testing.

Actually, as a space and technology geek, I truly hope this is the case.

[Harpo Speaks]

Actually, I think there is some restrictions in the range of latitudes you can travel in, in order to qualify as "around the world."

[Jackknife]

Thanks for the photo ping, FMC !

[iso]

Great News !

[bin2baghdad]

Is a ballistic projectile (Gagarin) flying? Or, in the words of Buzz Lightyear, is it "falling with style"?

[BIGLOOK]

On the Coconut Wireless here in Hawaii, the skinny is Fossett decided to go for it all after seeing the gas prices here.

Thanks for the ping and congratulations to Steve Fossett!