Solo Around The World

[LaoPo]

Flying over USA/Mexican border passing Phoenix Arizona and heading in a straight line for St. Petersburg/Florida (flying over Texas)

Speed 252.00 Knots and HIGHEST ALTITUDE SO FAR.....51,866ft

By the way...this is Steve Fossett, 61 years old...flying the plane

and Sir Richard Branson (1950) the 2 leading guys behind the Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer

LaoPo

Edited February 10, 2006 by LaoPo

[daleyboy]

What a waste of money, why doesnt he just dontae the money he has spent on this pointless expedition to a worthy cause, like homeless kids. It isnt even a decent record.

Crossing the antartic, now that is a decent test of human ability. Filling a plane with loads of fuel and then running on auto pilot, that doesnt take much really does it? If you can fly a plane then i imagine it wont be that difficult.

[LaoPo]

Just off the coast of Louisiana heading for St. Petersburg/Florida. Good winds

Speed 296.00 Knots High Altitude 51,680ft

LaoPo

[LaoPo]

From the website:

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Atlantic make or break

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At approximately 03:00 UTC Steve will reach the Atlantic Ocean and embark on the riskiest part of the entire flight.

Although Steve has had reasonable tailwinds, which the team were hoping would continue, it looks as though he will have almost no tailwinds to assist him over the vast sea.

This could cause a problem for Steve as the 750lbs of fuel he lost during take-off means he needs good jet streams to aid his flight.

Therefore, when Steve is two hours into his flight over the Atlantic, he will have to decide whether he has the fuel and good enough weather patterns to make a bid for Kent.

A pensive Kevin Stass said from Mission Control: "The Scaled Composite engineers are currently looking at data to see if there are ways to minimise the fuel Steve’s burning so he has a better chance of landing at Kent International Airport.

"It’s going to be a bit of nail biter tomorrow, but we’re cautiously optimistic."

When Steve spoke to a UK television station earlier today, Steve reflected Kevin’s comments: "The final 24 hours will be no walk in the park. I am seriously worried about the amount of fuel remaining, given the weakness of the jet streams across America and the Atlantic.

"The decision of whether to turn back is looming. Currently I would say the chances are no more than 50/50. I will have until 11:30 UTC when I reach the point of no return and will be forced to make this crucial decision.

"It would be devastating to have to ditch the Ultimate Distance Record when I am on the home straight."

If Steve does cross the Atlantic and finds he does not have enough fuel to keep the engine running for the last leg of the flight, his glide ratio is 200 miles from 50,000 feet. And, as we all know, if anyone has to glide an aircraft, Steve - with all his gliding records - is the man for the job.

By Liz Cotterell

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LaoPo

[thaibebop]

Has he crashed yet?

[LaoPo]

What a waste of money, why doesnt he just dontae the money he has spent on this pointless expedition to a worthy cause, like homeless kids

Here are some excerpts from his biography. Maybe that satisfies a bit?

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Richard Branson was born in 1950 and educated at Stowe School. It was here that he began to set up Student Magazine when he was just 16. By 17 he'd also set up Student Advisory Centre, which was a charity to help young people.

In 2002, the combined sales of the different Virgin holding companies exceeded £4billion. In addition to his own business activities, Richard is a trustee of several charities including the Virgin Healthcare Foundation, a leading healthcare charity which was responsible for the launch of a health education campaign relating to AIDS in 1987.

The Foundation has also become involved in a lobbying campaign called Parents Against Tobacco, which aims to restrict tobacco advertising and sponsorship in sport. His help in the initial funding of charity projects helped that organisation to raise over £100 million, through campaigns such as Comic Relief and many other charities.

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LaoPo

[LaoPo]

Over Florida, just passing Daytona beach, close to where he started. Crossing the Atlantic now. Tailwinds are OK. 60 hours of flying so far. Next waypoint Shannon - Ireland.

LaoPo

Has he crashed yet?

Let you know when he looks like your avatar

LaoPo

Edited February 11, 2006 by LaoPo

[Bung]

What a waste of money, why doesnt he just dontae the money he has spent on this pointless expedition to a worthy cause, like homeless kids

Here are some excerpts from his biography. Maybe that satisfies a bit?

*******************************************************************************

Richard Branson was born in 1950 and educated at Stowe School. It was here that he began to set up Student Magazine when he was just 16. By 17 he'd also set up Student Advisory Centre, which was a charity to help young people.

In 2002, the combined sales of the different Virgin holding companies exceeded £4billion. In addition to his own business activities, Richard is a trustee of several charities including the Virgin Healthcare Foundation, a leading healthcare charity which was responsible for the launch of a health education campaign relating to AIDS in 1987.

The Foundation has also become involved in a lobbying campaign called Parents Against Tobacco, which aims to restrict tobacco advertising and sponsorship in sport. His help in the initial funding of charity projects helped that organisation to raise over £100 million, through campaigns such as Comic Relief and many other charities.

*******************************************************************************

LaoPo

Well done Lao Po

Hey Daleyboy, when was the last time you did anything for homeless kids or anyone needy for that matter?

It's not all about money you know. You could "dontae" some of your time and do something worthy.

[thaibebop]

Over Florida, just passing Daytona beach, close to where he started. Crossing the Atlantic now. Tailwinds are OK. 60 hours of flying so far. Next waypoint Shannon - Ireland.

LaoPo

Has he crashed yet?

Let you know when he looks like your avatar

LaoPo

We'll call the Ghost Flyer then.

[LaoPo]

Latest: "Point of no return decision at 10.30UTC" and "1800 lbs of fuel remaining" and: "Kevin Stass 'cautiously optimistic"

Steve has soon to decide whether he has enough fuel (due to a loss in an earlier stage) to continue the flight. Depending if there are enough strong tailwinds.

He's now off the coast of Canada on the Atlantic, heading for Ireland.

Speed 229.00 Knots Altitude 48,962ft

The lower white line on the images, indicates the flying route from the point (Florida/USA) where he started on wednesday, heading for Africa.

LaoPo

[LaoPo]

Latest update:

"Point of NO return passed" - heading for England"

1400 lbs of fuel left.

Speed 223.00 Knots Altitude 50,666ft

Detailed update:

Steve has passed the point of no return crossing the Atlantic and is heading towards Shannon in Ireland with the hope of continuing onto Manston.

It was a decision that has been debated throughout the night as Mission Control liaised with Steve over whether he had enough fuel to make the flight.

After great deliberation and analysis over data the team has concluded that there is a reasonable chance of success and agreed that Steve should take the risk and not head back toward Newfoundland.

Speaking from Mission Control, Jon Karkow said: "We've been looking at the jet streams and the amount of fuel Steve has left in the tanks, and agreed at around 10:30 UTC that Steve could definitely make Shannon, if not Manston.

"It will be tense for us all here during the next few hours, but we will continue to monitor Steve's fuel levels and consumption, and have confidence in both Steve and the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer."

By Amy Abrahams and Liz Cotterell

LaoPo

Edited February 11, 2006 by LaoPo

[LaoPo]

confusing times!

From the website:

"During Steve’s around the world record attempt last year, we worked out that he would see four sunrises and sunsets, whilst the rest of us would only see three.

But now that Steve is travelling for an extra 13 hours or so, how many will he see on the ’Ultimate Flight’?

Well, Steve set off in the same west to east direction as he did last year, which is opposite to the earth’s rotation around its axis. He is again playing catch-up with the sun, meaning he’ll meet the sunrise faster than we do and will experience shorter bands of light and darkness.

In fact, a day for Steve is around 8 hours and 10 minutes and a night is around 9 hours and 40 minutes. This means that a day and a night equals 17.8 hours, instead of the usual 24 hours.

So, in total, Steve will see five sunrises and sunsets during his flight, including the take-off sunrise and landing sunset."

By Liz Cotterell

LaoPo

[LaoPo]

Almost there! Landing expected at Kent International Airport/UK at 17.00UTC time

Richard Branson will fly in another plane next to Seve Fossett the last hours or so:

"Sir Richard, who will be on the chase plane as Steve comes in to land, then added: "I’m just about to get a plane in the next few hours to go and meet Steve in the air as, so far on this attempt, no-one has been able to fly alongside him."

Just before he went off to speak to the world's Press, Sir Richard proved that he hasn’t forgotten you guys and had this message for you:

"I hope you’re enjoying reading the website and just want to say thanks to you for following the flight so well."

By Liz Cotterell

"

Unfortunately I have go in a minute, so update will be later tonight

LaoPo

Edited February 11, 2006 by LaoPo

[LaoPo]

LATEST UPDATE.....???????????

Mayday declared by Steve

Generator problem with aircraft

Steve safely on ground

Diverted to Bournemouth

Steve avoided having to ditch

Don't what this all means, but he's safe.

LaoPo

[Rinrada]

He has just landed at Kent International Airport in Bournmouth following a MAYDAY call and a last minute electrical systems failour.

Had to be re directed but all OK...Broke his own record....

LaoPo.......good news innit...and thanks for your ongoing commentary on this great achievement.....WELL DONE......

[LaoPo]

He has just landed at Kent International Airport in Bournmouth following a MAYDAY call and a last minute electrical systems failour.

Had to be re directed but all OK...Broke his own record....

LaoPo.......good news innit...and thanks for your ongoing commentary on this great achievement.....WELL DONE......

Thanks a lot for the update Rinrada ....just came back from a wonderful dinner with friends

Just reread but don't think it was at Kent Int'l Airport where he was supposed to land, but at Bournemouth Airport where he was not expected, due to the problems, but it's not important since he broke the record.

This is what I just found:

Steve lands as an uninvited guest!

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Congratulations to Steve Fossett, who has broken the world record for the longest ever flight in history and made a dramatic landing through the sunset - at Bournemouth Airport.

He travelled 26,389.3 miles and had a flight duration of 76 hours 45 minutes.

Just miles from his destination at Kent International Airport, Steve’s generator failed, which meant a total electrical breakdown.

He was forced to make an emergency Mayday call through to Bournemouth Airport, and was given a short window through which to land.

Chief Executive of Virgin Atlantic, Steve Ridgeway said: "If we didn’t get him down in fifteen minutes, he would have had to have ditched the plane."

The major problem occurred just after Richard had called Steve to congratulate him on his world record, which he actually broke when be flew over Shannon after covering the 26,000 miles required.

On landing, Steve burst two tyres, and his windscreen was iced up so much that he couldn't see even metres in front of him. Not only all that, but he had only 200lbs of fuel left; which if he had continued may well have turned into another emergency!

Sir Richard and Steve’s wife Peggy are with him at Bournemouth. After health checks a very tired Steve will make the journey to Kent International Airport to celebrate his amazing adventure.

Content delivered by >> 11/02/2006 17:32:00

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Wow, good job done and I suppose the end of the story, more or less.

Thank you all for 'watching' this topic.

LaoPo

Edited February 11, 2006 by LaoPo

[khall64au]

Thankyou so very much Lao Po!!!!

[thaibebop]

Awww, no crashing!

Well, that's no fun!

[LaoPo]

Awww, no crashing!

Well, that's no fun!

Sorry Thaibebop, it was close to a crash, but I'm afraid you have to wait Have a beer on me, nevertheless, ok?

LaoPo

[thaibebop]

Awww, no crashing!

Well, that's no fun!

Sorry Thaibebop, it was close to a crash, but I'm afraid you have to wait Have a beer on me, nevertheless, ok?

LaoPo

Beer?

Beer is good. Thanks.