Today, Global Flyer departed Florida for a trip around the world – plus. Once completing the circumnavigation, Steve Fossett will head across the pond for the second time, ultimately landing in the U.K.
Man, I envy this guy for the adventure he will get, but not for the Iron-Man endurance of staying airborne for 80 hours. It only takes a four-hour flight before my butt goes to sleep – maybe less.
This is from New Scientist:
GlobalFlyer takes off in pursuit of longest flight ever
The Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer aircraft took off at 0722 EST on Wednesday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, US, on an attempt to shatter a series of aviation world records.The first launch attempt on Tuesday was scuppered by a leaking fuel tank, but everything went smoothly second time around for the dawn take-off. The leak was fixed, and the weather produced light headwinds and a temperature of 8°C (46°F). Above 12°C (54°F) and the air would not have been dense enough to support the fuel-laden jet’s take-off from the 3-mile-long runway.
Before take-off, inspectors from the US National Aeronautics Association placed seals on the airplane’s hatch and fuel tank, to ensure that no landing or refuelling takes place during the expected 80-hour flight.
The journey is expected to cover up to 46,000 kilometres (28,600 miles), which would be the longest aircraft flight ever. Pilot and veteran record-breaker Steve Fossett will make do with occasional 5-minute naps and get by on nothing but strawberry-flavoured nutritional drinks.
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