Fossett Update
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Australia
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Zeroing In
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JULY 3, 2002, 2:00 a.m. CDT (JULY 3, 2002, 07:00 UTC)
It has been 14 days and 4 hours since liftoff, and Steve Fossett is
cruising across Australia seeking a landing point to end his
record-breaking adventure. High wind speeds have precluded the possibility
of landing the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom at sunset Australian time (early
tomorrow morning UTC) as originally planned. Fossett plans to wait until
sunrise (late tomorrow evening UTC) when wind conditions are typically
calmer. He has been decreasing altitude in order to reduce speed, and his
resulting trajectory should put him near Birdsville or Windorah for the
eventual touchdown.
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom is flying at 20,000 feet (6,096 meters) at 73
miles per hour (117 km per hour). At 31 degrees south and 134 degrees east,
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom has a heading of 64 degrees and has traveled
20,552 miles (33,075 km).
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JULY 3, 2002, 2:00 a.m. CDT (JULY 3, 2002, 07:00 UTC)
It has been 14 days and 4 hours since liftoff, and Steve Fossett is
cruising across Australia seeking a landing point to end his
record-breaking adventure. High wind speeds have precluded the possibility
of landing the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom at sunset Australian time (early
tomorrow morning UTC) as originally planned. Fossett plans to wait until
sunrise (late tomorrow evening UTC) when wind conditions are typically
calmer. He has been decreasing altitude in order to reduce speed, and his
resulting trajectory should put him near Birdsville or Windorah for the
eventual touchdown.
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom is flying at 20,000 feet (6,096 meters) at 73
miles per hour (117 km per hour). At 31 degrees south and 134 degrees east,
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom has a heading of 64 degrees and has traveled
20,552 miles (33,075 km).
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Australia
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wirraway The last words I had with Tim Cole after the launch, over a few Bud Light's, was "See you in 2 weeks". The other part of a conversation was "As long as Steve comes down before the Great divide we'll be happy"
So you see, even at the launch, an air of confidence was with everybody concerned. We all talked with confidence and all told how we felt in the GUT this was the one.
I'm just glad he has got to where he is,safely. The rest is a bonus.
So you see, even at the launch, an air of confidence was with everybody concerned. We all talked with confidence and all told how we felt in the GUT this was the one.
I'm just glad he has got to where he is,safely. The rest is a bonus.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Australia
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The ballon fully inflated standing on the ground can take an 8 knot cross wind, so I see a fairly safe barrier for Steve. All we need is the early morning before or during sunrise and that will be the window a gestimate for a landing. These guy's weigh up every pro and con, rest assured. Nothing will be taken to chance unless safety is an issue.
Go Steve........
Go Steve........
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Australia
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good Cheer
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JULY 3, 2002, 4:00 a.m. CDT (JULY 3, 2002, 09:00 UTC)
Mission Control has been on the phone with Steve Fossett in the last hours
relaying wind conditions on the ground in Australia, possible landing
areas, and a lot of good cheer. Fossett is comfortable and happy 6,000 feet
off the ground waiting for dawn and gentle winds suitable for landing.
Fossett has lowered his flight level in order to decrease speed.
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom is prepared for the delay in landing. At
launch, the balloon was equipped with enough food, fuel, oxygen, and other
essentials for thirty days. Fossett is in his fifteenth day of flight.
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom is flying at 6,000 feet (1,828 meters) at 53
miles per hour (86 km per hour). At 30 degrees south and 137 degrees east,
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom has a heading of 58 degrees and has traveled
20,721 miles (33,347 km).
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JULY 3, 2002, 4:00 a.m. CDT (JULY 3, 2002, 09:00 UTC)
Mission Control has been on the phone with Steve Fossett in the last hours
relaying wind conditions on the ground in Australia, possible landing
areas, and a lot of good cheer. Fossett is comfortable and happy 6,000 feet
off the ground waiting for dawn and gentle winds suitable for landing.
Fossett has lowered his flight level in order to decrease speed.
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom is prepared for the delay in landing. At
launch, the balloon was equipped with enough food, fuel, oxygen, and other
essentials for thirty days. Fossett is in his fifteenth day of flight.
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom is flying at 6,000 feet (1,828 meters) at 53
miles per hour (86 km per hour). At 30 degrees south and 137 degrees east,
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom has a heading of 58 degrees and has traveled
20,721 miles (33,347 km).
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Australia
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Finding a Place to Park
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JULY 3, 2002, 4:00 a.m. CDT (JULY 3, 2002, 09:00 UTC)
- - The last twelve hours have seen Steve Fossett and Bud Light Spirit of
Freedom return to Australia. While not yet on the ground, Fossett crossed
over land near Ceduna at 4:17 UTC. Mission Control intended on landing
Fossett around sunset, once surface winds calmed, near Leigh Creek South.
Bert Padelt, systems director, said Fossett aims for surface winds under 10
knots for a safe landing. At the time of the estimated landing, winds in
Leigh Creek South were 21 knots, gusting to 31. Therefore, Fossett has
remained airborne and is aiming for landing at 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC),
July 3.
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JULY 3, 2002, 4:00 a.m. CDT (JULY 3, 2002, 09:00 UTC)
- - The last twelve hours have seen Steve Fossett and Bud Light Spirit of
Freedom return to Australia. While not yet on the ground, Fossett crossed
over land near Ceduna at 4:17 UTC. Mission Control intended on landing
Fossett around sunset, once surface winds calmed, near Leigh Creek South.
Bert Padelt, systems director, said Fossett aims for surface winds under 10
knots for a safe landing. At the time of the estimated landing, winds in
Leigh Creek South were 21 knots, gusting to 31. Therefore, Fossett has
remained airborne and is aiming for landing at 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC),
July 3.
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Townsville,Nth Queensland
Posts: 2,717
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thurs "Melbourne Age"
Steve Fossett's Spirit of Freedom crosses the South Australian cost near Ceduna yesterday after successfully circumnavigating the globe.
Photo By Trevor Collens
What goes up must come down ... the question is where?
By Kirsty Needham
July 4 2002
Having circled the world, solo balloonist Steve Fossett has led his ground crew on a chase across Australia as gusting winds prevented a landing in Western Australia.
The crew were instead expected to touch down at dawn today in Queensland.
Word spread around the bar of the historic Birdsville Hotel last night of the likely arrival of the record-breaking adventurer.
"Everyone is fairly excited," said pub owner Jo Laurie. But she warned any drop-ins that beds were fully booked: "You get that in the outback. Maybe they have a swag they can put under the wing?"
A Spirit of Freedom chase crew of 15 people in two helicopters and a jet spent yesterday moving from the Western Australian town of Kalgoorlie, to Ceduna in South Australia, on to Woomera and finally the south-western corner of Queensland where a landing attempt was expected between Birdsville and Windorah.
The two helicopters, one with a 350 nautical mile range, carry a crew to help Mr Fossett recover and load the balloon, and a film crew. Each move requires clearance with air traffic controllers in Australia and mission control in St Louis.
The jet has followed the balloon to record video of Mr Fossett, a difficult task involving holding a camera to the window as the pilot performs a stomach-wrenching "two G" turn.
Strong 30-knot winds that could rip the balloon apart and were deemed too dangerous to land, caught the Spirit of Freedom team by surprise.
After flying nearly 31,380 kilometres around the southern hemisphere, Mr Fossett had hoped to land yesterday morning.
A dusk landing at Woomera was abandoned due to high winds.
Mr Fossett crossed from ocean to land above Ceduna in South Australia about 2pm, and later began dropping in altitude to slow the balloon.
He described the winds last night as "a very dangerous situation" and was concerned about the possibility of breaking arms or legs.
"Steve is ready to land after being in the air for as long as he has but the main objective is to get him down safely," said mission controller Bert Padelt.
Dawn and dusk are chosen as the best times to land because they have the lowest ground wind conditions.
Landing the balloon, which is 42 metres tall and 18 metres wide, is one of the riskiest manoeuvres of the flight.
As the giant balloon slows it will become harder to control. At a certain point then Mr Fossett must decide to completely deflate, after which time he cannot abort the landing.
Mr Fossett's circling of the globe - which took 13 days, not counting the time he is taking to land - was his sixth attempt at a solo balloon circumnavigation.
The 58-year-old investment tycoon spent that time living in a cramped capsule, eating military-style food and breathing through an oxygen cylinder.
After Mr Fossett lands, and catches his breath, he will be flown to Sydney on his private jet, where he will address a media conference.
But as he spends another night high above Earth, Mr Fossett, who has scaled most of the world's tallest mountains and set numerous sailing and flying records, is also likely to be pondering his next adventure - flying a glider near the edge of space.
Congratulating him on his achievement yesterday was Sir Richard Branson, who partnered Mr Fossett in a two-man around-the-world balloon bid in 1998.
"I suspect it's the toughest aviation record that's ever been broken," Branson told the Sky News channel.
"The loneliness of doing something like this on your own for most people would be unbearable."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC News Online
Posted: Thu, 4 Jul 2002 5:10 AEST
US balloonist Fossett douses fire, prepares to land
US balloonist Steve Fossett scrambled to douse a fire in his closet-sized capsule as he prepared to land his craft in the Australian outback, hoping to bring an end to his successful solo circumnavigation of the globe.
58-year-old millionaire Fossett dove for the propane fuel tank's shutoff valve after a fire broke out inside his gondola when a hose came loose, averting a potential disaster, Fossett told his mission control in an e-mail.
Fossett's goal was to set down his 42-metre silver balloon around dawn near the isolated desert hamlet of South Galway in Queensland, as soon as 20:00 GMT his mission control in St Louis says.
"At night, he can't see anything, but the winds normally die down at dawn," mission spokesman Martin Schilling said.
Fossett was taking a longer route over southern Australia, bedeviled by high winds on the ground that delayed a landing.
"It's a very dangerous situation," Fossett said on Wednesday from his closet-sized gondola hanging beneath the giant silver "Spirit of Freedom" balloon.
Fossett took 14 days to become the first solo balloonist to circumnavigate the globe on Tuesday and had planned to set down in the Australian outback north of the southern city of Adelaide on Wednesday evening.
But the landing was scratched by ground winds of 30 kilometres per hour.
He needs winds of 16 kilometres per hour or less to land safely or risk his massive balloon and gondola being dragged along the ground.
Fossett crossed the coast along the Great Australian Bight and had been expected to land near Woomera, 270 kilometres northwest of Adelaide but winds at Woomera were too strong.
As the giant balloon slows it will become harder to control.
At a certain point, Fossett must decide to completely deflate after which time he cannot abort the landing.
On his fifth attempt to circumnavigate the globe last August, storms forced Fossett to land in Brazil, but problems deflating saw him dragged about 1.6 kilometres along the ground before he managed to cut a cable to detach the gondola.
"This balloon is way too big," Fossett said.
"If I was to get injured hitting the ground or get knocked out I would be unable to deflate the balloon and would be dragged forever", he said.
Fossett will also be hoping to find a lightly-shrubbed piece of outback on which to land as he plans to crash into trees to slow down the balloon and bring it to a halt.
Near the ground, he will open deflation valves to rapidly release helium.
The balloon's envelope is not expected to survive the landing, only the gondola housing Fossett says should remain intact.
The capsule is to be taken to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington.
There it will be hung next to Charles Lindbergh's "Spirit of Saint Louis", which made the first solo nonstop crossing of the Atlantic in 1927.
The International Aeronautics Federation in Lausanne, Switzerland says it would take several weeks to validate Fossett's flight.
Fossett made five earlier unsuccessful solo attempts to circumnavigate the earth in a balloon.
Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard and English co-pilot Brian Jones completed the first round-the-world balloon flight in March 1999.
The American was lucky to survive a plunge of 8,800 metres into the Coral Sea off Australia's northeast during his fourth attempt in 1998.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Com Au
Fossett lands in Queensland
04jul02
ADVENTURER Steve Fossett has landed his hot air balloon in southwestern Queensland after succeeding in his round-the-world attempt.
A member of his ground crew told Melbourne radio 3AW the Spirit of Freedom helium balloon had touched down.
Steve Fossett's Spirit of Freedom crosses the South Australian cost near Ceduna yesterday after successfully circumnavigating the globe.
Photo By Trevor Collens
What goes up must come down ... the question is where?
By Kirsty Needham
July 4 2002
Having circled the world, solo balloonist Steve Fossett has led his ground crew on a chase across Australia as gusting winds prevented a landing in Western Australia.
The crew were instead expected to touch down at dawn today in Queensland.
Word spread around the bar of the historic Birdsville Hotel last night of the likely arrival of the record-breaking adventurer.
"Everyone is fairly excited," said pub owner Jo Laurie. But she warned any drop-ins that beds were fully booked: "You get that in the outback. Maybe they have a swag they can put under the wing?"
A Spirit of Freedom chase crew of 15 people in two helicopters and a jet spent yesterday moving from the Western Australian town of Kalgoorlie, to Ceduna in South Australia, on to Woomera and finally the south-western corner of Queensland where a landing attempt was expected between Birdsville and Windorah.
The two helicopters, one with a 350 nautical mile range, carry a crew to help Mr Fossett recover and load the balloon, and a film crew. Each move requires clearance with air traffic controllers in Australia and mission control in St Louis.
The jet has followed the balloon to record video of Mr Fossett, a difficult task involving holding a camera to the window as the pilot performs a stomach-wrenching "two G" turn.
Strong 30-knot winds that could rip the balloon apart and were deemed too dangerous to land, caught the Spirit of Freedom team by surprise.
After flying nearly 31,380 kilometres around the southern hemisphere, Mr Fossett had hoped to land yesterday morning.
A dusk landing at Woomera was abandoned due to high winds.
Mr Fossett crossed from ocean to land above Ceduna in South Australia about 2pm, and later began dropping in altitude to slow the balloon.
He described the winds last night as "a very dangerous situation" and was concerned about the possibility of breaking arms or legs.
"Steve is ready to land after being in the air for as long as he has but the main objective is to get him down safely," said mission controller Bert Padelt.
Dawn and dusk are chosen as the best times to land because they have the lowest ground wind conditions.
Landing the balloon, which is 42 metres tall and 18 metres wide, is one of the riskiest manoeuvres of the flight.
As the giant balloon slows it will become harder to control. At a certain point then Mr Fossett must decide to completely deflate, after which time he cannot abort the landing.
Mr Fossett's circling of the globe - which took 13 days, not counting the time he is taking to land - was his sixth attempt at a solo balloon circumnavigation.
The 58-year-old investment tycoon spent that time living in a cramped capsule, eating military-style food and breathing through an oxygen cylinder.
After Mr Fossett lands, and catches his breath, he will be flown to Sydney on his private jet, where he will address a media conference.
But as he spends another night high above Earth, Mr Fossett, who has scaled most of the world's tallest mountains and set numerous sailing and flying records, is also likely to be pondering his next adventure - flying a glider near the edge of space.
Congratulating him on his achievement yesterday was Sir Richard Branson, who partnered Mr Fossett in a two-man around-the-world balloon bid in 1998.
"I suspect it's the toughest aviation record that's ever been broken," Branson told the Sky News channel.
"The loneliness of doing something like this on your own for most people would be unbearable."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC News Online
Posted: Thu, 4 Jul 2002 5:10 AEST
US balloonist Fossett douses fire, prepares to land
US balloonist Steve Fossett scrambled to douse a fire in his closet-sized capsule as he prepared to land his craft in the Australian outback, hoping to bring an end to his successful solo circumnavigation of the globe.
58-year-old millionaire Fossett dove for the propane fuel tank's shutoff valve after a fire broke out inside his gondola when a hose came loose, averting a potential disaster, Fossett told his mission control in an e-mail.
Fossett's goal was to set down his 42-metre silver balloon around dawn near the isolated desert hamlet of South Galway in Queensland, as soon as 20:00 GMT his mission control in St Louis says.
"At night, he can't see anything, but the winds normally die down at dawn," mission spokesman Martin Schilling said.
Fossett was taking a longer route over southern Australia, bedeviled by high winds on the ground that delayed a landing.
"It's a very dangerous situation," Fossett said on Wednesday from his closet-sized gondola hanging beneath the giant silver "Spirit of Freedom" balloon.
Fossett took 14 days to become the first solo balloonist to circumnavigate the globe on Tuesday and had planned to set down in the Australian outback north of the southern city of Adelaide on Wednesday evening.
But the landing was scratched by ground winds of 30 kilometres per hour.
He needs winds of 16 kilometres per hour or less to land safely or risk his massive balloon and gondola being dragged along the ground.
Fossett crossed the coast along the Great Australian Bight and had been expected to land near Woomera, 270 kilometres northwest of Adelaide but winds at Woomera were too strong.
As the giant balloon slows it will become harder to control.
At a certain point, Fossett must decide to completely deflate after which time he cannot abort the landing.
On his fifth attempt to circumnavigate the globe last August, storms forced Fossett to land in Brazil, but problems deflating saw him dragged about 1.6 kilometres along the ground before he managed to cut a cable to detach the gondola.
"This balloon is way too big," Fossett said.
"If I was to get injured hitting the ground or get knocked out I would be unable to deflate the balloon and would be dragged forever", he said.
Fossett will also be hoping to find a lightly-shrubbed piece of outback on which to land as he plans to crash into trees to slow down the balloon and bring it to a halt.
Near the ground, he will open deflation valves to rapidly release helium.
The balloon's envelope is not expected to survive the landing, only the gondola housing Fossett says should remain intact.
The capsule is to be taken to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington.
There it will be hung next to Charles Lindbergh's "Spirit of Saint Louis", which made the first solo nonstop crossing of the Atlantic in 1927.
The International Aeronautics Federation in Lausanne, Switzerland says it would take several weeks to validate Fossett's flight.
Fossett made five earlier unsuccessful solo attempts to circumnavigate the earth in a balloon.
Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard and English co-pilot Brian Jones completed the first round-the-world balloon flight in March 1999.
The American was lucky to survive a plunge of 8,800 metres into the Coral Sea off Australia's northeast during his fourth attempt in 1998.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Com Au
Fossett lands in Queensland
04jul02
ADVENTURER Steve Fossett has landed his hot air balloon in southwestern Queensland after succeeding in his round-the-world attempt.
A member of his ground crew told Melbourne radio 3AW the Spirit of Freedom helium balloon had touched down.
Last edited by Wirraway; 3rd Jul 2002 at 22:07.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Australia
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Fossett Lands Bud Light Spirit of Freedom Balloon!
At 5:18 p.m. CDT (22:18 UTC), Steve Fossett contacted Mission Control at
Washington University in St. Louis to say that he had successfully landed
the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom balloon. After 14 days and 19 hours, Steve
Fossett is now on ground in the Outback of Australia. A media conference is
currently in progress, and there will be more information shortly.
At 5:18 p.m. CDT (22:18 UTC), Steve Fossett contacted Mission Control at
Washington University in St. Louis to say that he had successfully landed
the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom balloon. After 14 days and 19 hours, Steve
Fossett is now on ground in the Outback of Australia. A media conference is
currently in progress, and there will be more information shortly.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Australia
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Steve Fossett Lands Safely in Australia
Arrives Unharmed Despite Dangerous Conditions
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JULY 3, 2002, 7:00 p.m. CDT (JULY 4, 2002, 0:00 UTC)
As the media and team members patiently waited for confirmation of Steve
Fossett's landing, a telephone aptly named "the Batphone" rang in Mission
Control. The caller was Fossett himself, officially informing the world
that he had safely landed in Australia, bringing his historic mission to a
close.
Upon hearing the news, all of the team members gathered to shake hands and
hug in celebration, as Mission Control was filled with the sound of
applause from everyone present.
However, while Fossett landed safely and unharmed, the process was far from
perfect. Via telephone, he explained during a press conference at
Washington University in St. Louis that both the weather and the technical
difficulties made for a rough landing.
"It was a very dangerous situation with the landing," explained Fossett.
First, the landing site had ground winds approaching 20 knots, when ideally
they would have none. This problem was compounded when the balloon envelope
would not detach from the capsule, meaning that it could have "dragged
forever," according to Fossett.
Fortunately ground team members, such as Project Manager Tim Cole, were
able to help Fossett pull the ripcord that detached the capsule from the
rest of the balloon.
Though the landing was more dangerous than he had hoped, Fossett said that
the impact itself was actually very smooth, even less than one would feel
jumping from a tabletop.
"The impact was really not too serious," said Fossett.
Despite the risky landing, Fossett was in high spirits and still plans on
attempting to fly a glider into the stratosphere by the end of July or the
beginning of August. But for now, he will assist the team in Australia with
transporting the balloon before heading to a press conference in Sydney.
While Fossett plans on heading home within the next day, the capsule of Bud
Light Spirit of Freedom will travel on one more adventure. Fossett said
that he received confirmation yesterday that it will be kept in the
National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington,
D.C. It will be hung next to the "Spirit of St. Louis," the plane that
Lindbergh made famous when he used it to become the first person to cross
the Atlantic Ocean in an airplane.
To conclude the media conference in Mission Control, Joe Castellano,
Anheuser-Busch vice president of retail marketing, passed out bottles of
Bud Light to the team members and proposed a toast to Fossett, as the team
held up signs reading "Mission Impossible: Accomplished."
"You proved successfully what a man with a dream can do," said Castellano.
Upon landing, Fossett has accomplished three major achievements. First and
foremost, he is the first person to complete a solo trip round-the-world in
a balloon. He also achieved the record for the longest distance flown by a
single person in a balloon, by going almost 34,000 km. And he broke the
record for the longest duration for one person, staying in the air for
about 14 days and 20 hours.
Arrives Unharmed Despite Dangerous Conditions
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JULY 3, 2002, 7:00 p.m. CDT (JULY 4, 2002, 0:00 UTC)
As the media and team members patiently waited for confirmation of Steve
Fossett's landing, a telephone aptly named "the Batphone" rang in Mission
Control. The caller was Fossett himself, officially informing the world
that he had safely landed in Australia, bringing his historic mission to a
close.
Upon hearing the news, all of the team members gathered to shake hands and
hug in celebration, as Mission Control was filled with the sound of
applause from everyone present.
However, while Fossett landed safely and unharmed, the process was far from
perfect. Via telephone, he explained during a press conference at
Washington University in St. Louis that both the weather and the technical
difficulties made for a rough landing.
"It was a very dangerous situation with the landing," explained Fossett.
First, the landing site had ground winds approaching 20 knots, when ideally
they would have none. This problem was compounded when the balloon envelope
would not detach from the capsule, meaning that it could have "dragged
forever," according to Fossett.
Fortunately ground team members, such as Project Manager Tim Cole, were
able to help Fossett pull the ripcord that detached the capsule from the
rest of the balloon.
Though the landing was more dangerous than he had hoped, Fossett said that
the impact itself was actually very smooth, even less than one would feel
jumping from a tabletop.
"The impact was really not too serious," said Fossett.
Despite the risky landing, Fossett was in high spirits and still plans on
attempting to fly a glider into the stratosphere by the end of July or the
beginning of August. But for now, he will assist the team in Australia with
transporting the balloon before heading to a press conference in Sydney.
While Fossett plans on heading home within the next day, the capsule of Bud
Light Spirit of Freedom will travel on one more adventure. Fossett said
that he received confirmation yesterday that it will be kept in the
National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington,
D.C. It will be hung next to the "Spirit of St. Louis," the plane that
Lindbergh made famous when he used it to become the first person to cross
the Atlantic Ocean in an airplane.
To conclude the media conference in Mission Control, Joe Castellano,
Anheuser-Busch vice president of retail marketing, passed out bottles of
Bud Light to the team members and proposed a toast to Fossett, as the team
held up signs reading "Mission Impossible: Accomplished."
"You proved successfully what a man with a dream can do," said Castellano.
Upon landing, Fossett has accomplished three major achievements. First and
foremost, he is the first person to complete a solo trip round-the-world in
a balloon. He also achieved the record for the longest distance flown by a
single person in a balloon, by going almost 34,000 km. And he broke the
record for the longest duration for one person, staying in the air for
about 14 days and 20 hours.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Australia
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Words of Praise Flood Mission Control from Round-the-World
Family Members, Business Leaders and even Actors Congratulate Fossett
St. Louis, MO 4:30 CDT, July 3, 2002 (7/3/2002 21:30 UTC) -- As word spreads throughout the world today that Steve Fossett successfully completed his quest in Bud Light Spirit of Freedom to become the first solo balloonist to circumnavigate the globe, words of congratulation poured into Mission Control at Washington University in St. Louis.
The Guinness Book of World Records, based in England, wrote in this morning, accepting the pilot’s following achievements: Longest Distance Flown Solo by Balloon and Longest Duration Solo Flight in a balloon. The world record organization said: “Steve Fossett has now become a prolific Guinness World Record holder.” Hein Le Roux, a researcher for the group, said of Fossett, “He truly is a multi-talented record breaker!”
Fossett also received praise from fellow balloonists around the world. Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), the organization that will review the flight records for final confirmation of the achievement, sent in congratulations. Also, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones, the first pair to circumnavigate the world in 1999, emailed Fossett to let him know they were “very excited that this time seems to be the good one.” Don Cameron of Cameron Balloons also e-mailed him, informing Fossett of a champagne reception they held in recognition of the event.
Family members of the pilot were also eager to congratulate him. Fossett’s brother Richard said “Congratulations to the entire team for a job extremely well done! You have achieved a very difficult mission with surgical precision.” The pilot’s “family” at Mission Control joined in the congratulations, e-mailing the capsule to describe the excited atmosphere during the announcement that he had circled the globe and reminding him that they were “all proud to be a part of this flight.”
He even received good words from his business colleagues. August A. Busch III, chairman of the board for Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., called Fossett “truly one of the world’s greatest adventurers.” Bud Light, which is brewed by Anheuser-Busch, the world’s largest brewer, sponsored the flight. Salvatore F. Sodano, chairman and CEO of the American Stock Exchange also congratulated him. Sodano also invited the pilot to host an opening bell ceremony at the exchange, once Fossett had rested from his journey.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard also sent in his congratulations, telling Fossett “you have demonstrated great persistence and courage in continuing to pursue your goal in the face of setbacks experienced on previous attempts.”
Rounding off the letters was a pair from Barron Hilton and actor Cliff Robertson. Hilton, from the worldwide hotel chain of the same name, said he was “looking forward to [Fossett’s] return to Carmel. And Robertson, who starred as “Uncle Ben” in this summer’s hit movie “Spiderman,” offered perhaps the kindest words of all:
“Just about the time the entire world has ‘had enough’ of terrorism – murders – kidnapping – corporate corruption and ‘creative bookkeeping’ – out of the blue sailed the ‘Spirit of Freedom’ and Steve Fossett,” wrote Robertson. “He has reminded this troubled world that dreams are real – can be realized if the holder is willing to hold tight with the grip of belief. Thank you, Steve Fossett, for helping this weakened world to hang in there – to tighten its grip of hope – and to never give up.”
Family Members, Business Leaders and even Actors Congratulate Fossett
St. Louis, MO 4:30 CDT, July 3, 2002 (7/3/2002 21:30 UTC) -- As word spreads throughout the world today that Steve Fossett successfully completed his quest in Bud Light Spirit of Freedom to become the first solo balloonist to circumnavigate the globe, words of congratulation poured into Mission Control at Washington University in St. Louis.
The Guinness Book of World Records, based in England, wrote in this morning, accepting the pilot’s following achievements: Longest Distance Flown Solo by Balloon and Longest Duration Solo Flight in a balloon. The world record organization said: “Steve Fossett has now become a prolific Guinness World Record holder.” Hein Le Roux, a researcher for the group, said of Fossett, “He truly is a multi-talented record breaker!”
Fossett also received praise from fellow balloonists around the world. Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), the organization that will review the flight records for final confirmation of the achievement, sent in congratulations. Also, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones, the first pair to circumnavigate the world in 1999, emailed Fossett to let him know they were “very excited that this time seems to be the good one.” Don Cameron of Cameron Balloons also e-mailed him, informing Fossett of a champagne reception they held in recognition of the event.
Family members of the pilot were also eager to congratulate him. Fossett’s brother Richard said “Congratulations to the entire team for a job extremely well done! You have achieved a very difficult mission with surgical precision.” The pilot’s “family” at Mission Control joined in the congratulations, e-mailing the capsule to describe the excited atmosphere during the announcement that he had circled the globe and reminding him that they were “all proud to be a part of this flight.”
He even received good words from his business colleagues. August A. Busch III, chairman of the board for Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., called Fossett “truly one of the world’s greatest adventurers.” Bud Light, which is brewed by Anheuser-Busch, the world’s largest brewer, sponsored the flight. Salvatore F. Sodano, chairman and CEO of the American Stock Exchange also congratulated him. Sodano also invited the pilot to host an opening bell ceremony at the exchange, once Fossett had rested from his journey.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard also sent in his congratulations, telling Fossett “you have demonstrated great persistence and courage in continuing to pursue your goal in the face of setbacks experienced on previous attempts.”
Rounding off the letters was a pair from Barron Hilton and actor Cliff Robertson. Hilton, from the worldwide hotel chain of the same name, said he was “looking forward to [Fossett’s] return to Carmel. And Robertson, who starred as “Uncle Ben” in this summer’s hit movie “Spiderman,” offered perhaps the kindest words of all:
“Just about the time the entire world has ‘had enough’ of terrorism – murders – kidnapping – corporate corruption and ‘creative bookkeeping’ – out of the blue sailed the ‘Spirit of Freedom’ and Steve Fossett,” wrote Robertson. “He has reminded this troubled world that dreams are real – can be realized if the holder is willing to hold tight with the grip of belief. Thank you, Steve Fossett, for helping this weakened world to hang in there – to tighten its grip of hope – and to never give up.”
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Australia
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
11:11 AEST Thu 4 Jul 2002
Relieved Fossett ends record flight
Steve Fossett describes his landing
Multi-millionaire balloonist Steve Fossett has had a smooth landing in outback southwest Queensland after flying his hot air balloon around the world.
Mr Fossett's spokesman Stuart Radnofsky said it was an upright landing and Fossett emerged from his capsule safe.
"He has landed, it was a stand-up landing," Mr Radnofsky said.
Mr Fossett's private jet was expected to arrive at the landing site near lake Yamma Yamma and fly him to Bellara in Queensland.
He will then be flown to Sydney for a shower, shave and press conference expected to be held around 1pm (AEST).
The 58-year-old Chicago investment tycoon made aviation history when on Tuesday night he crossed longitude 117 degrees east - the line in Western Australia that on June 19 was the starting point of his ambitious bid to become the first solo balloonist to circumnavigate the globe.
Mr Fossett said he bounced and dragged when he landed and had some problems with his inflation system.
"It was a very dangerous situation on the landing," he said via satellite phone.
Mr Fossett told a press conference in Missouri via satellite phone he was feeling "enormously relieved" now that he had achieved his goal of flying around the world solo.
"I think the balloon flight's been the most dangerous thing I've ever been involved in," he said.
The wind speeds were satisfactory for his landing but some technical problems occurred.
"The problem was not being able to deploy the deflation system," he said.
He said some members of his ground crew came to his assistance and helped him finally emerge from his capsule.
Mr Fossett said the spot where he landed about 7.30am (AEST) near Lake Yamma Yamma was open country.
"The terrain was a dry river bed. It was pretty much open country we were coming into," he said.
Mr Fossett said he would hold a press conference in Sydney this afternoon then head home to the US on Friday.
"I hope to make it to Sydney this afternoon ... and then head home tomorrow morning."
Jill Rickert, who lives in Durham Downs, in south-western Queensland, said she saw Mr Fossett's Spirit of Freedom balloon fly overhead about 7am (AEST).
"All the ringers were out, everyone was watching him," she told Seven Sunrise.
"Out where he was going ... it was pretty open."
Mr Fossett had a scare earlier when a small fire broke out on board his balloon.
But he was awake at the time and extinguished the blaze without it causing significant damage to his balloon.
©AAP 2002
Relieved Fossett ends record flight
Steve Fossett describes his landing
Multi-millionaire balloonist Steve Fossett has had a smooth landing in outback southwest Queensland after flying his hot air balloon around the world.
Mr Fossett's spokesman Stuart Radnofsky said it was an upright landing and Fossett emerged from his capsule safe.
"He has landed, it was a stand-up landing," Mr Radnofsky said.
Mr Fossett's private jet was expected to arrive at the landing site near lake Yamma Yamma and fly him to Bellara in Queensland.
He will then be flown to Sydney for a shower, shave and press conference expected to be held around 1pm (AEST).
The 58-year-old Chicago investment tycoon made aviation history when on Tuesday night he crossed longitude 117 degrees east - the line in Western Australia that on June 19 was the starting point of his ambitious bid to become the first solo balloonist to circumnavigate the globe.
Mr Fossett said he bounced and dragged when he landed and had some problems with his inflation system.
"It was a very dangerous situation on the landing," he said via satellite phone.
Mr Fossett told a press conference in Missouri via satellite phone he was feeling "enormously relieved" now that he had achieved his goal of flying around the world solo.
"I think the balloon flight's been the most dangerous thing I've ever been involved in," he said.
The wind speeds were satisfactory for his landing but some technical problems occurred.
"The problem was not being able to deploy the deflation system," he said.
He said some members of his ground crew came to his assistance and helped him finally emerge from his capsule.
Mr Fossett said the spot where he landed about 7.30am (AEST) near Lake Yamma Yamma was open country.
"The terrain was a dry river bed. It was pretty much open country we were coming into," he said.
Mr Fossett said he would hold a press conference in Sydney this afternoon then head home to the US on Friday.
"I hope to make it to Sydney this afternoon ... and then head home tomorrow morning."
Jill Rickert, who lives in Durham Downs, in south-western Queensland, said she saw Mr Fossett's Spirit of Freedom balloon fly overhead about 7am (AEST).
"All the ringers were out, everyone was watching him," she told Seven Sunrise.
"Out where he was going ... it was pretty open."
Mr Fossett had a scare earlier when a small fire broke out on board his balloon.
But he was awake at the time and extinguished the blaze without it causing significant damage to his balloon.
©AAP 2002
Last edited by Elevator; 4th Jul 2002 at 02:45.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Australia
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Arrives Unharmed Despite Dangerous Conditions
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JULY 3, 2002, 7:00 p.m. CDT (JULY 4, 2002, 0:00 UTC)
As the media and team members patiently waited for confirmation of Steve Fossett's landing, a telephone aptly named "the Batphone" rang in Mission Control. The caller was Fossett himself, officially informing the world that he had safely landed in Australia, bringing his historic mission to a close.
Upon hearing the news, all of the team members gathered to shake hands and hug in celebration, as Mission Control was filled with the sound of applause from everyone present.
However, while Fossett landed safely and unharmed, the process was far from perfect. Via telephone, he explained during a press conference at Washington University in St. Louis that both the weather and the technical difficulties made for a rough landing.
"It was a very dangerous situation with the landing," explained Fossett.
First, the landing site had ground winds approaching 20 knots, when ideally they would have none. This problem was compounded when the balloon envelope would not detach from the capsule, meaning that it could have "dragged forever," according to Fossett.
Fortunately ground team members, such as Project Manager Tim Cole, were able to help Fossett pull the ripcord that detached the capsule from the rest of the balloon.
Though the landing was more dangerous than he had hoped, Fossett said that the impact itself was actually very smooth, even less than one would feel jumping from a tabletop.
"The impact was really not too serious," said Fossett.
Despite the risky landing, Fossett was in high spirits and still plans on attempting to fly a glider into the stratosphere by the end of July or the beginning of August. But for now, he will assist the team in Australia with transporting the balloon before heading to a press conference in Sydney.
While Fossett plans on heading home within the next day, the capsule of Bud Light Spirit of Freedom will travel on one more adventure. Fossett said that he received confirmation yesterday that it will be kept in the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. It will be hung next to the "Spirit of St. Louis," the plane that Lindbergh made famous when he used it to become the first person to cross the Atlantic Ocean in an airplane.
To conclude the media conference in Mission Control, Joe Castellano, Anheuser-Busch vice president of retail marketing, passed out bottles of Bud Light to the team members and proposed a toast to Fossett, as the team held up signs reading "Mission Impossible, Accomplished!"
"You proved successfully what a man with a dream can do," said Castellano.
Upon landing, Fossett has accomplished three major achievements. First and foremost, he is the first person to complete a solo trip round-the-world in a balloon. He also achieved the record for the longest distance flown by a single person in a balloon, by going almost 34,000 km. And he broke the record for the longest duration for one person, staying in the air for about 14 days and 20 hours.
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JULY 3, 2002, 7:00 p.m. CDT (JULY 4, 2002, 0:00 UTC)
As the media and team members patiently waited for confirmation of Steve Fossett's landing, a telephone aptly named "the Batphone" rang in Mission Control. The caller was Fossett himself, officially informing the world that he had safely landed in Australia, bringing his historic mission to a close.
Upon hearing the news, all of the team members gathered to shake hands and hug in celebration, as Mission Control was filled with the sound of applause from everyone present.
However, while Fossett landed safely and unharmed, the process was far from perfect. Via telephone, he explained during a press conference at Washington University in St. Louis that both the weather and the technical difficulties made for a rough landing.
"It was a very dangerous situation with the landing," explained Fossett.
First, the landing site had ground winds approaching 20 knots, when ideally they would have none. This problem was compounded when the balloon envelope would not detach from the capsule, meaning that it could have "dragged forever," according to Fossett.
Fortunately ground team members, such as Project Manager Tim Cole, were able to help Fossett pull the ripcord that detached the capsule from the rest of the balloon.
Though the landing was more dangerous than he had hoped, Fossett said that the impact itself was actually very smooth, even less than one would feel jumping from a tabletop.
"The impact was really not too serious," said Fossett.
Despite the risky landing, Fossett was in high spirits and still plans on attempting to fly a glider into the stratosphere by the end of July or the beginning of August. But for now, he will assist the team in Australia with transporting the balloon before heading to a press conference in Sydney.
While Fossett plans on heading home within the next day, the capsule of Bud Light Spirit of Freedom will travel on one more adventure. Fossett said that he received confirmation yesterday that it will be kept in the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. It will be hung next to the "Spirit of St. Louis," the plane that Lindbergh made famous when he used it to become the first person to cross the Atlantic Ocean in an airplane.
To conclude the media conference in Mission Control, Joe Castellano, Anheuser-Busch vice president of retail marketing, passed out bottles of Bud Light to the team members and proposed a toast to Fossett, as the team held up signs reading "Mission Impossible, Accomplished!"
"You proved successfully what a man with a dream can do," said Castellano.
Upon landing, Fossett has accomplished three major achievements. First and foremost, he is the first person to complete a solo trip round-the-world in a balloon. He also achieved the record for the longest distance flown by a single person in a balloon, by going almost 34,000 km. And he broke the record for the longest duration for one person, staying in the air for about 14 days and 20 hours.
