Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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

Posted on 03/03/2005 11:58:47 AM PST by Next_Time_NJ



(CNN) -- Pilot Steve Fossett has become the first person to fly solo nonstop round-the-world. His plane, the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, touched down Thursday afternoon in Salina, Kansas, more than 66 hours after he lifted off from the same spot.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; Technical
KEYWORDS: aroundtheworld; flight; fossett; history; lotsacoffee; peterbranson; plane; stevefossett; virginatlantic
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120121-133 next last
To: NCC-1701
And BTW, it's an American record.

Damn right!

101 posted on 03/03/2005 3:10:19 PM PST by B4Ranch
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Fierce Allegiance
Rutan rocks. It's been a good year for him.

Burt Rutan is our generation's Werner Von Braun.

102 posted on 03/03/2005 3:11:28 PM PST by Jackknife (No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.-MacArthur)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: jakkknife
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!

103 posted on 03/03/2005 3:58:00 PM PST by ExSES
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 102 | View Replies]

To: charleywhiskey
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.

104 posted on 03/03/2005 4:04:28 PM PST by Lonesome in Massachussets (Deadcheck the embeds first.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 93 | View Replies]

To: ExSES
(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.

105 posted on 03/03/2005 4:08:42 PM PST by Jackknife (No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.-MacArthur)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 103 | View Replies]

To: Centurion2000
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
106 posted on 03/03/2005 4:11:06 PM PST by rmlew (Copperheads and Peaceniks beware! Sedition is a crime.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: jaydubya2
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.

107 posted on 03/03/2005 4:24:20 PM PST by yarddog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: yarddog

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


108 posted on 03/03/2005 4:26:19 PM PST by jaydubya2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 107 | View Replies]

To: ExSES

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


109 posted on 03/03/2005 4:54:03 PM PST by True Republican Patriot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 103 | View Replies]

To: NCC-1701

>> "...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.


110 posted on 03/03/2005 5:08:52 PM PST by Boundless
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]

To: Next_Time_NJ; NCC-1701; Peach; E. Pluribus Unum; Pyro7480; Fierce Allegiance; 3dognight; ...
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

111 posted on 03/03/2005 5:18:08 PM PST by Former Military Chick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Former Military Chick

That last picture is just gorgeous.


112 posted on 03/03/2005 5:29:28 PM PST by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 111 | View Replies]

To: Peach

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.


113 posted on 03/03/2005 5:38:27 PM PST by Former Military Chick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 112 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin
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.

114 posted on 03/03/2005 5:43:23 PM PST by mitchbert (Paul Martin is a Spineless Ditherer. That's a Fact. And Facts Are Stubborn Things .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Lonesome in Massachussets

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


115 posted on 03/03/2005 6:03:33 PM PST by Harpo Speaks (Honk! Honk! Honk! Either it's foggy out, or make that a dozen hard boiled eggs.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: Former Military Chick

Thanks for the photo ping, FMC !


116 posted on 03/03/2005 6:13:49 PM PST by Jackknife (No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.-MacArthur)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 111 | View Replies]

To: Next_Time_NJ

Great News !


117 posted on 03/03/2005 6:18:19 PM PST by iso
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kidd

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


118 posted on 03/03/2005 6:22:21 PM PST by bin2baghdad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Aeronaut
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!

119 posted on 03/03/2005 6:31:30 PM PST by BIGLOOK (I once opposed keelhauling but recently have come to my senses.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

Comment #120 Removed by Moderator


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120121-133 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson