'Spirit of Freedom' Plans July 4 Landing at Dawn (1st Solo Round-the-World Balloon Flight)

Media Red Alert/Advisory- Spirit of Freedom.com ^ | 1 July 2002 | Steve Fossett

[orrick]

As the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom reaches the final leg of Steve Fossett's solo bid to circumnavigate the globe by balloon, it is now anticipated that he will land northeast of Adelaide, Australia.

Due to limitations from the sun and heat, Steve will attempt to land at either dusk on Wednesday July 3, or dawn of Thursday July 4.

The landing time and location are subject to change and will be determined by his air speed, timing and direction after crossing the Australian coast.

A helicopter will take video and still shots of the landing.

The footage and still shots will be available on a free pool media basis immediately afterwards from the website www.spiritoffreedom.com

Upon landing and depending on Steve's condition, a media conference will likely occur in Sydney within hours of his arrival.

Details on the press conference will be confirmed after the landing.

Please continue to watch www.spiritoffreedom.com for update information.

[orrick]

God Bless America and prayers for the safety of this Chicago guy over the ocean right now!

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

I think he's a bit of a glory-hound, but I can't help but want an American to do it. So go Steve!

[dead]

I wish him a safe landing, but I've never seen such a colossal waste of time and money in my life (excepting most government programs.)

[lazysob]

His time. His money.

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

I wonder if they'll try an unmanned round-the-world flight next. Completely remote-controlled. But then, that would probably be seen as lessening the role of the pilot. It does seem to me that it takes a heck of a lot of ground support to do this.

[dead]

His time. His money.

Yep.

(My opinion of how he spent both was offered without any government coercion as well.)

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Yeah, Fossett should have given all of his money to the government in the form of taxes so they could figure out if bovine and equine flatulence is contributing to global warming. The nerve of some people to spend their own money the way they see fit.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

The kicker would be if the Govt pays me to freep on FR :)

[dead]

If I ever said it wasn't his right to waste his money, you might actually have a point.

[CheneyChick]

If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try, try, try, try, try again.

Cheers! CC :)

[2Trievers]

Thanks for the GREAT post!

Steve Fossett is my hero! I adore him! Sorry ... got carried away there! &;-)

[john in missouri]

Fortunately, this is "only" his SIXTH (!) attempt at this.

A couple of years ago he was struck by lightning in a storm over the Pacific east of Australia, puncturing his balloon, which plummeted into the ocean. He was briefly knocked unconscious and woke up just in time as his capsule was going down. He managed to get out an into a life raft where he spent most of the next 24 hours waiting for a rescue ship.

After that, he said he wasn't sure he would ever try again. Well, it looks like Steve's day has finally just about arrived.

[2Trievers]

Gone and done what no man has ever done before ... Hoooaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! &;-)

[abner]

One of his crew guys is the man that certifies our balloons.

It really looks like he is going to make it this time!

Dead- Why do it?

.

.

.

It's fun.

[2Trievers]

Is this a glorious moment ... "The Spirit of Freedom" possibly landing July 4th ... so totally awesome! Some people will never understand Abner ... never. Aeronaut hugs &;-)

[lazysob]

STEVE FOSSETT holds World Records in three sports.

He made the first balloon crossing of Asia, Africa, Europe, South Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean and the first Solo Flight across the Pacific Ocean.

In sailing, he holds 9 World Records and 8 yacht race records.

He has set the Round the World record for medium weight jet airplanes and holds various other outright speed records.

In addition, he has completed premier endurance sports events including the Iditarod, Ironman Triathlon, and the English Channel swim.


BALLOONING

Solo Round the World attempt, August 2001
Australia to Brazil
Solo duration record 12 days 12 hours 57 mins
First balloon crossing of the continent of South America
First balloon crossing of the South Pacific ocean
After this attempt Steve became the first person to fly over 3 oceans and 4 continents

Round the World attempt :Mendoza, Argentina to the Coral Sea
(Absolute World Distance Record- superceded) 14,235.33 statute miles (22,910 km)
- August 7 ­ 16, 1998
(Longest Solo Aircraft Flight)

Round the World attempt: St. Louis, Missouri to Sultanpur, India
(Absolute World Distance Record and Absolute World Duration Record - superceded) 10,360.61 statute miles 6 days 2 hours 44 minutes
- January 13 - 20, 1997

First Solo Flight Across Pacific: Seoul, South Korea to Mendham, Saskatchewan
(Absolute World Distance Record- superceded)
5435.82 statute miles
- February 17-21, 1995

Round the World attempt: Marrakech, Morocco to Hawaii
12,403.07 statute miles
- December 16 ­ 25, 1998

Round the World attempt: St. Louis, Missouri to Grechanaya, Russia
5,802.94 statute miles
- January 1-5, 1998

Transatlantic Flight: St. John's, Canada to Hamburg, Germany
- August, 1994

Roziere Balloon Altitude Flight:Erie, Colorado to Carlton, Kansas
(8 World Records - superceded) 27,484 feet,
- September 21 - 22, 91996


SAILING 9 World Records

Miami - New York record: 941.03 nm. 2 days 5 hours 55 mins 8 secs
- 22 May 2001

24 Hour Record: 580.23 nautical miles (24.17 kts avg.)
- March 16 - 17, 1999

Newport to Bermuda (Singlehanded): 40 hours, 51 minutes, 54 seconds
- June 1999

Newport to Bermuda (Outright): 38 hours, 35 minutes, 53 seconds
- Jan 2000

Pacific Ocean Singlehanded Record: 20 days 9 hours 52 minutes (Yokohama to San Francisco) - August, 1996

Pacific Ocean Record:16 days 17 hours 21 minutes
(Yokohama to San Francisco- superceded)
- August, 1995

California to Hawaii (Transpac -superceded)
- July, 1995

Pacific Ocean East-West
- May, 1996

Hawaii to Japan
- August, 1995

Around Britain & Ireland
- October, 1994

Around Ireland
- September, 1993

Around the Isle of Wight
- September, 1994

8 Race Records
Chicago ­ Mackinac: 18 hours, 50 minutes, 32 seconds
- July, 1998

Newport ­ Ensenada: 6 hours, 46 minutes, 40 seconds
- April, 1998

Singlehanded Transpac: 7 days, 22 hours, 38 minutes
- July, 1998

Miami ­ Montego Bay
- February, 1999

Swiftsure
- May, 1997

San Diego ­ Puerto Vallarta
- February, 1998

Long Beach ­ Cabo San Lucas
- November, 1995

Windjammers
- August, 1997

Route du Rhum (Solo Transatlantic Race): 5th Place Overall
- November, 1994




AVIATION

Perth - Brisbane
Fastest Ever Australian TransContinental Crossing
1134.56 kph / 704.52 mph
28 July 2001

Perth - Hobart
Fastest Ever Business Jet Record
1216.39 kph / 755.99 mph
30 July 2001

Westbound Round the World (medium weight aircraft record)
51 hours 36 mins 19 secs
27 November 2000

Alomoso (Colorado, USA) - Ormond Beach (Florida, USA) - Alomoso (Colorado, USA)
5000 km closed course world record
5 hrs 36 mins 19 secs
921.04 kph / 572.29 mph
14 July 2000


San Francisco - New York
US Coast to Coast Record
3 hrs 42 mins 44 secs
693.18 mph / 1115.52 kph
6 April 2000

Los Angeles - Honolulu
4 hrs 11 mins 15 secs
609.84 mph / 981.44 kph
23 march 2000

Eastbound Round the World (medium weight aircraft record)
41 hrs 13 mins 11 secs
559.76 mph / 895.62 kph
16 February 2000

2000 km Speed Record
598.26 mph / 962.81 kph
25 September 1999



CROSS COUNTRY SKIING

Aspen to Vail: Record: 59 hours, 53 minutes, 30 seconds - February 20-22, 1998 (superceded)

Aspen to Eagle: Record: 12 hours, 39 minutes, Feb. 21, 2000



OTHER SPORTS

Iditarod Dogsled Race 1165 mile race across Alaska 47th Place - March, 1992

Ironman Triathalon 2.4 mi. swim, 112 mi. bike, 26.1 mi. run - October, 1996

English Channel Swim France to England - September, 1985

24 Hours of Le Mans Sports Car Race Kremer Porsche 962C and Kremer K-8 - June, 1993 and June, 1996

Leadville 100 Trail Run Colorado - August, 1991



PROFESSIONAL

Chairman, Lakota Trading, Inc., an options market maker firm with 44 exchange members.



BOARDS

Board of Trustees, Washington University

National Executive Board, Boy Scouts of America


AWARDS

Balloon and Airship Hall of Fame, FAI-CIA, Inducted June, 1997

Diplome de Montgolfier, Fédération Aéronautique Intérnationale, March, 1996

Victor Award (Special), Victor Sports Awards, July, 1995, and June, 1997

Distinction in Exploration, National Geographic Society, November, 1998

Harmon Trophy, National Aeronautic Association, October, 1998

Silver Buffalo, Boy Scouts of America, May, 1999

Distinguished Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America, May, 1998

Prix De La Vaulx, Fédération Aéronautique Intérnationale, 1995 and 1997



MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow, The Explorers Club

Fellow, The Royal Geographical Society

Honorary Member, The Adventurers Club

Honorary Member, Newport Harbor Yacht Club

[fporretto]

I understand that a major media figure has announced his intention to scale the Matterhorn wearing a Michelin Man suit, equipped with only a can opener and a garlic press. (His identity will be withheld until the event itself, to protect him from Swiss eco-terrorists.)

Seriously, folks, I don't mean to diminish the difficulty of Fossett's undertaking, but isn't the Guinness Book getting a trifle over-large?

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit the Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com

[orrick]

Oh say can you see, by the DAWNS early light...(on July 4 no less)

Truly a combination of planning, skill and determination.

[orrick]

Is it possible to do a Northern route round the world, or would conditions make it impossible?

[Mr_Magoo]

It is possible, and was done once by a Swiss team. Steve did try the North route a few times, but found it next to impossible to get permission to fly over countries.(China, Iraq, and Libia come to mind)