Virgin's
PR people are indeed being coy about Sir Richard's pilot experience/qualifications. They do emphasise that he is strictly the reserve pilot for Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, and that in the event of Steve Fossett being unable to make the flight, he will fly the aircraft "providing he has time to gain all the necessary qualifications". At the time of GlobalFlyer's roll-out three weeks ago he was still named as reserve pilot, but it was also stated that he "will follow the flight in the support aircraft".