He Made It!

Salina, Kan. – March 19, 2006 – It may take awhile to confirm that adventurer Steve Fossett’s latest flight was a record-setting flight. But it certainly was a smooth one. Fossett landed the VirginAtlantic Global Flyer at Salina’s Municipal Airport at 9:05 a.m. Friday, after traveling around the world nonstop. The flight covered about 25,300 miles in nearly 75 hours. Stronger-than-expected tailwinds moved up the anticipated landing time from its original target of Friday afternoon. Fossett’s flight is expected to set a new record for distance traveled nonstop in a closed course. In other words taking off and landing in the same place. Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager set the current record in 1986. They flew Voyager for just over nine days covering 24,931 miles. But unquestionably, this flight had the fewest problems. In previous GlobalFlyer flights Fossett was forced to contend with fuel and generator issues. The only problem this time was a brake malfunction that caused the plane to do a complete turn on the runway after it touched down. This trip contained many features that have become commonplace in Fossett’s travels. For instance, he slept less than 3 hours during the around-the-world flight, and he relied on his regular GlobalFlyer diet — 12 pounds of water, three pounds of lemon-lime Gatorade, and 24 cans of French Vanilla diet milkshakes. But he did make an interesting phone call. As Fossett made his way over the Pacific Ocean south of Hawaii Thursday morning, he chatted — via satellite phone — with Astronaut William McArthur onboard the International Space Station. Fossett said he is retiring the GlobalFlyer, now with about 100,000 miles on it, and may donate it to the National Air and Space Museum. That is unless he can find another mission for the now-famous plane. Even though the plane may be retired, you can fly it if you have Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 or FS2004. A desktop simulator version of the GlobalFlyer is available from Aeroplane Heaven. Steve’s Other Records in the VirginAtlantic GlobalFlyer Flight Makes Another First for Fossett Fossett Lands in Record Books…Again!

Steve Fossett waves to the crowd at the Salina Municipal Airport Friday, March 17, 2006, in Salina, Kan. Fossett said Friday that he broke the record for flying farther than anyone departing and landing at the same spot, flying more than 25,000 miles in three days, officials said. (AP Photo/Kelly Glasscock). The VirginAtlantic GlobalFlyer touches down at the Salina Municipal Airport on Friday, March 17. (Photo: globalflyer2 blogspot) After landing in Kansas, Steve Fossett poses with several members of the ground crew who assisted him during his record-setting flight. (Photo: globalflyer2 blogspot.com) Learn More International Space Station Flight of the Voyager National Air and Space Museum Aeroplane Heaven

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