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VA Global Flyer - World Record Flight (Merged)
Steve Fossett's on his way again. Follow his flight at http://www.virginatlanticglobalflyer...trol/Tracking/
4HP
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Don't missunderstand my question as a negative comment, but what is Fosset actually hunting for again? I thought he has done that already. The internet site doesn't tell anything about the targets and records to be beaten...
Dani
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E67 longitude - about to enter Indian airspace @ 1247Z. 
His FP route was over southern Iran & Pakistan, but actual appears over the ocean a few hundred miles south.
His FP route was over southern Iran & Pakistan, but actual appears over the ocean a few hundred miles south.
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I believe Mr Fossett is after the record for the longest flight. He has done the round the world bit before but he is tagging on a bit more so he holds the record for distance. One and a bit times round!
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Actually it is Burt Rutan who deserves the accolades. It was Rutan’s design, his dream, his vision, and his drive that made this flight truly possible. True Steve Fosse and Richard Branson, with their funds made this trip possible. But lets face, there is no real challenge other than finding a comfortable position to sit for the long duration of the flight… or hmmm what kind of food should I bring for this journey. There’s an autopilot, GPS, and constant ground support… I just don’t see the challenge here. Am I missing something here? Heck, the plane could have been flown as a drone around the world to break the distance record. In fact the weight savings could have put more gas on the jet and it could have flown an even greater distance to really break the longest distant record. Oh I forgot… no fame for Fosse then… Yawnnnnn…. To excited… I guess.
I agree with Captjns that Rutan should also be praised for yet another amazing, fit for purpose yet beautiful aircraft.
However, in no way should the pilot be belittled for this terrific, ongoing effort.
A 16 hour Pacific crossing on one engine is quite an undertaking in itself! 80 hours airborne, solo!
Just what does it take to impress you?
Rutan has done a great job and Fossett is now doing his job. Furthermore, you seem unable even to spell his name correctly!
As for Dusk to Dawn - what is someone with zero interest in aviation doing here? What does vaste mean?
Aeronut
However, in no way should the pilot be belittled for this terrific, ongoing effort.
A 16 hour Pacific crossing on one engine is quite an undertaking in itself! 80 hours airborne, solo!
Just what does it take to impress you?
Rutan has done a great job and Fossett is now doing his job. Furthermore, you seem unable even to spell his name correctly!
As for Dusk to Dawn - what is someone with zero interest in aviation doing here? What does vaste mean?
Aeronut
Last edited by Aeronut; 10th Feb 2006 at 08:30.
From above :
From the VAGF website :
But lets face, there is no real challenge other than finding a comfortable position to sit for the long duration of the flight… or hmmm what kind of food should I bring for this journey. There’s an autopilot, GPS, and constant ground support… I just don’t see the challenge here. Am I missing something here?
Steve has admitted that during a period of "severe" turbulence he feared a wing might break and had put on his parachute in case he had to abandon the plane mid-air.
The tubulence occurred approximately 14:30UTC Thursday as he flew over Bhophal in India. Although Steve informed Mission Control about the turbulence and said he was "uncomfortable" he did not let the team know the full extent of the trouble.
It was only later in the evening that he revealed he had put his parachute on and that the turbulence had been a frightening experience.
Steve said: "I was afraid it was going to break up. It was a scary time and I had my parachute on and I was prepared to bail out in case a wing broke."
The tubulence occurred approximately 14:30UTC Thursday as he flew over Bhophal in India. Although Steve informed Mission Control about the turbulence and said he was "uncomfortable" he did not let the team know the full extent of the trouble.
It was only later in the evening that he revealed he had put his parachute on and that the turbulence had been a frightening experience.
Steve said: "I was afraid it was going to break up. It was a scary time and I had my parachute on and I was prepared to bail out in case a wing broke."
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Originally Posted by Aeronut
Just what does it take to impress you?
Aeronut
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The man has GPS, an autopilot, and ground support every step of the way of his journey. If he circumnavigated the globe without the modern day conveniences of aerial naviation, perhaps I would be more impressed.
Transparency International
Aeronut, 16 hour Pacific crossings are done daily by ferry pilots delivering single engine aircrafts. And that has been going on for more than the 50 years I've been interested in aviation. [Insert spelling disclaimer here]
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Originally Posted by dusk2dawn
Aeronut, 16 hour Pacific crossings are done daily by ferry pilots delivering single engine aircrafts. And that has been going on for more than the 50 years I've been interested in aviation. [Insert spelling disclaimer here]
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Sen. Barry Goldwater was a WWII P-47 pilot, and he was a member of a one-time ATL ferry formation of P-47's. I have his report somewhere.
And I once met a Canadian pilot who flew a Waco CG-4A across the pond in tow behind a C-47.
And I once met a Canadian pilot who flew a Waco CG-4A across the pond in tow behind a C-47.
IF you have crossed the Pacific with a single engine.............well done! In my mind this is as much a celebration of the machine as it is of the man prepared to fly it.
Still cannot fathom the miserable attitudes to this effort which goes wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy beyond crossing the Pacific. Take another look at the flight trace and try not to be so miserable you two. Capt & D2D
He'll be passing overhead some time soon, so I 'm off to catch a glimpse of the contrail. Don't forget you can watch the landing live on Sky news, if you're not too bitter!
Still cannot fathom the miserable attitudes to this effort which goes wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy beyond crossing the Pacific. Take another look at the flight trace and try not to be so miserable you two. Capt & D2D
He'll be passing overhead some time soon, so I 'm off to catch a glimpse of the contrail. Don't forget you can watch the landing live on Sky news, if you're not too bitter!
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Probably they don't want the pilot of a single engined A/C, and single crew who has been on duty for more than 80 hours and almost out of fuel flying over or anywhere near London.